#tower of dawn fanfiction

[verperina]

It Was Just for One Night

Pairing: Dorian Havilliard x f!reader 

Summary: What was only supposed to be a one-time thing turns into a two-time thing.

Warnings: 18+ smut

Word Count: 5,666

Author's Note: This is my first time writing in a while and my first time writing for Throne of Glass/SJM’s work. I’ve never published anything on here before, so please don’t be too harsh. I hate the dialogue and the smut, but oh well. Massive credit to @autumnshighlady for helping me with the smut and for being so kind.

You feel the faint touch of a phantom hand ghost along the skin of your bare back, leaving goosebumps. You suppress a shudder. You could feel a pair of eyes burning into the side of your face, making your heart beat faster. You raised the glass of red wine to your lips and swallowed a mouthful down, trying to appear calm with your father standing beside you, conversing with another lord. They were talking about something that you had no interest in or care enough to act like you were listening to them.

His eyes were on you. Watching you. Always watching you. You finally let your eyes meet the king’s gaze and they were filled with pure hunger and desire. His sapphire eyes slowly trailed the entire length of your body, taking in the dark navy satin dress that had been gifted to you this morning. You weren’t even aware who had gifted you the dress, but it was obvious now. From the way his lips twitched and the hunger in his eyes became more and more apparent.  

It had only been a month since you and Dorian had slept together. A drunken fueled haze that had been filled with pure carnal desire. It was a one-time thing. You knew it would never happen again, but it didn’t mean that you would if it did. He had been a very generous and a very passionate lover. Making sure that you had found release, multiple times, before finding his own. When he finished, he asked if you were okay, dressed himself and left your chambers and that was it. You weren’t expecting anything after. It would be foolish to think so. 

You were surprised that the king had chosen you of all people to bed. You had heard that when Dorian was still the prince he was a harlot, so surely it wouldn’t be hard for him to find someone more appealing since he’s the King of Adarlan.

After that night there were times when both of you would be in the same room and you would make yourself never look in his direction, or he would talk to your father about diplomatic matters and rather quickly, you would excuse yourself. You didn’t want anyone to find out. You could only imagine the scandal it would cause.

An older man was talking to Dorian, and the king nodded his head, pretending that he was listening. His crown gleaming in the light, rings decorating his long fingers, dressed exquistely, and seated on his throne full of pride. He was beautiful and he knew it too. 

You forced yourself to divert your gaze, focusing instead on the people dancing to the music and the decorations that adorned the room for the Yulemas ball. But you felt it again. That phantom touch. And this time, it wasn’t faint. It felt more apparent. More forceful. 

The touch stroked the length of your spine before landing on the curve of your backside, trailing downwards until it reached the back of your thigh, and gave a soft squeeze. You purse your lips as your hand clenches the stem of the wine glass, face warming, and you quickly glance at your father and the other lord, making sure they weren’t paying attention to what was happening, before looking back toward Dorian to see his eyes were still on you. He wasn’t even trying to hide the smug look on his face.

Arrogant prick. You couldn’t believe he was choosing to do this in a room full of people. Especially with your father right next to you. You shot a subtle look at Dorian, but it only seemed to amuse him. He cocked his head to the side, a mocking gesture, daring you to do something. The tension was starting to become too much. 

You swallowed.

“I’m going out to the garden for some air,” you said quietly to your father. He waved his hand in dismissal and continued his conversation with the man. You placed your glass down on the nearest table and began weaving your way through the crowds of people, careful to not get anyone’s wine on your dress. You could feel Dorian’s gaze burning through the back of your head, following your every movement. 

When you walked outside you inhaled the air, welcoming it into your lungs and letting the cold breeze cool your flushed body. Everything had felt too warm and crowded inside that room. Too overwhelming.

Snow fell from the sky, landing on the ground and kissing it a beautiful white. A few snowflakes landed in your hair. The wind was lightly blowing, making your skin prickle. You pulled a single rose from a bush, careful to not cut your fingers on any of the thorns. The rose was a deep, luscious shade of red with soft petals. You lifted the flower to your nose and inhaled its sweet and floral scent. There was a soft crunch in the snow behind you. Footsteps. You didn’t have to turn around to know who they belonged to. 

“That is a very beautiful dress,” Dorian said, his voice smooth. You turned your head to the side and met his gaze. Pure mirth in his stare. His raven black hair shining in the moonlight. “You look rather flustered.”

You kept your face blank, feeling a small hint of annoyance starting to bubble up inside of you. “Are you mad?”

Dorian quirked an eyebrow. “No, ‘Your Majesty’?” 

A roll of your eyes. “Are you mad, Your Majesty?” 

He grinned. “Ask me tomorrow.”

"My father was right there,” you huffed. “He could have seen. Anyone could have seen.”

“Yes, but no one did.”

“I’m not an exhibsionist.”

“I apologize, my lady.” He gave a mocking bow.

“Is this a game to you?” you ask, turning to face him fully. 

His brows slightly furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You had your fun. We both did,” you explained. “It was a one-time thing, so why did you give me this dress and why did you do that in there?”

He was quiet for a moment, studying you, and then he said, “What if I want it to become a two-time thing?”

“Why? What’s in it for you?” you say cautiously. Surely, he wasn’t serious.

“I get to enjoy your presence once more,” he answered. “I rather enjoyed myself the last time.”

You try to hide your surprise, but he caught it. You kept your eyes on him, furrowing your eyebrows, and wondered why he wanted to sleep together again, with you, when he could have anyone else. You weren’t completely turned-off to the idea. It would be a lie to say that you hadn’t thought about it.

In the dead of night, you would let your fingers slip inside your wet cunt and fantasize about his hands wrapping around your throat, his teeth tugging on your nipple, and his cock thrusting inside of you. The sound of his groans and your moans, both of your bodies slick with sweat. You felt a flutter low in your stomach. Your throat bobbed.

“We could enjoy each other’s company once more.” 

“What if someone finds out?” You cross your arms across your chest. “It would make things difficult for you, but mostly for me.”

“The guards wouldn’t say anything,” he reassured. 

You raised an eyebrow. “Surely the absence of your presence has been noted.”

“I announced that I was retiring for the night and told everyone to continue partying.”

“What if someone sees?”

“Everyone is too busy drinking and dancing,” he paused for a moment, looking you up and down, noticing that your body was stiff. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Do you not want to? If not, then it’s fine, I don’t mean to place pressure on you.”

You could tell that Dorian’s words were genuine. His face was soft and patient, waiting for you to respond. “I want to,” you admitted. His eyes became bright at your words. “I just don’t want to complicate things.” He waited for you to continue. “You’re the King of Adarlan. I don’t think people would be pleased to know that you’ve bedded me. I would probably be seen as a woman who tempted the king for money and power; as a whore.”

“It's no one's business what I do, or what you do. I am the king. My guards know to keep their mouths shut, especially the ones that are stationed outside my chambers. If anyone does find out, then you can come to me, and I will deal with it.” 

You thought about it for a moment, weighing your options, and glanced around the garden to see that it was still empty. You met his gaze once more and nodded. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, voice coming out low. He took a step closer to you. 

“Yes.” You licked your lips, and his eyes trailed the movement. You took a step forward, glancing at his lips, tilting your head upwards and parting your lips slightly, giving him permission to kiss you. His hand came to cup your face, his thumb lightly stroking the side of your cheek while his other hand settled on your hip, giving it a hard squeeze.

Your bodies were pressed against each other, and it was then that you could feel the hardness of his cock through his trousers. You leaned your head forward, feeling his breathe as your lips were about to connect-

You jerked back as you let out a low hiss of pain as one of the thorns sliced into the tip of your index finger. A bead of blood pooled at the cut, making your skin sting. Dorian plucked the flower from your hand and brought your finger close to his face, his eyes inspecting the small cut and then he looked at you, a sly look on his face.

“You need to be more careful, dove.” He brought your finger to his lips, pressing light kisses onto the skin slowly, as if savoring the taste of the salt on your skin mixed with your blood. His tongue replaced his lips, his eyes never leaving yours. 

Your breath hitched and you could feel wetness start to pool in between your thighs. His teeth harshly nipped at the skin, making a small noise escape your throat. “Dorian,” you moaned quietly. “Please.” Your toes curled. He tossed the rose on the ground, releasing your finger, and brought your lips to his. 

His lips were cold but soft, and you ran your hands through his thick hair, your nails lightly scraping his scalp. You swallowed the groan that left his mouth. His hands are roughly squeezing your backside, pushing you closer to him. He tugged your bottom lip between his teeth as you pressed your thighs together to try and relieve some of the aching tension.

“Not here,” you breathed.

He nodded and grabbed your hand, walking both of you out of the garden and through a door that had no one near it, and led the two of you back inside the castle. You had to walk fast to keep up with the strides of his long legs. The halls that he led you through were thankfully empty, not even the guards were positioned in the hallway, it looked like any rarely came through this way. He squeezed your hand and brushed his thumb across your knuckles. 

The hall to where his chambers came into view and the guards stationed outside didn’t so much as flinch as Dorian neared the door. They only gave a respectful bow to their king, averting their eyes, and pretended to not notice that his hand was interlaced with yours, or that his lips were swollen, and the tanned skin of his cheeks were flushed.

He pushed open the door and led you through his room, quickly closing the door. You stopped in the middle of the room and noticed it was rather untidy; books were open and lying on his desk and the table by the sofa, his bed was unmade, and a few of his clothes were on the floor. But it smelled like him. So much like Dorian.

Your back was facing Dorian, his footsteps sounding closer, the sound of his crown being placed gently on a table, and then he was right behind you. His front pressed against your back, the warmth of his body seeping into you. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear before grabbing your chin, making you meet his gaze, sapphire eyes were blazing. His forehead rested against yours. “I need to hear you say it.”

Your breathing was growing heavier.

“Yes. Please.”

His hand released your chin, moving your head back to its original position and his free hand came to rest on your hip. His hand then wrapped around your throat, squeezing softly, and tilted your head back. Dorian’s lips were brushing the shell of your ear before his teeth tugged on the lobe of your ear, biting gently.

The hand on your waist moved until it was settled right above your pelvis, pushing you back so you could feel his cock. You slightly shifted your hips, grinding your ass on his hardened length, and you were pleased when a low groan left him.

He left a trail of rough kisses down the column of your throat, teeth occasionally nipping and harshly sucking on the flesh, marking you as his. Quiet moans escaping your lips as you let your body lean more into him.

The thin strap of your dress fell down your shoulder, exposing your collarbone. Phantom hands came to cup your breasts through the flimsy material of your dress, squeezing before pinching your peaked nipples, hard. 

A hiss left you, arching your back away from his body, but his hand pushed you back against him and held you tightly, and grabbed your face again, placing his lips on yours. The tip of your tongue meeting his own. Heat bloomed in your core. He bit your bottom lip as he removed the dress from your body and let it fall to the floor. You turned around, arms snaking around his neck and pulling at the thick strands of his hair. 

Both of his hands grabbed yours as he pulled his lips away from yours. Breathing heavily, he guided you toward his large bed. His cheeks were a flushed red and his once neat hair was messy from you dragging your fingers through it.

You climbed onto the bed and sat up on your knees, grabbing the lapels of his jacket and kissed him again. His hand came to cup the side of your ass, his blunt fingernails lightly scratching before a harsh smack came down, the sound echoing throughout the room.

Your body jolted forward and you let out a loud, breathy moan. You felt yourself becoming more aroused. 

“You like how that feels?” Dorian asked. Another harsh smack came down, on the opposite side this time, when you didn’t answer. “I asked you a question.”

“Yes,” you groaned, head tipping back in pleasure.

“I’m going to take good care of you.” The words sounded like a promise.

You tugged off his jacket and let it drop to the floor. You took off his tunic next, revealing the pale line on his tan skin from where the collar had been, and strong, firm muscle. Your hand came to cup his cock through his black trousers. Dorian hissed, eyebrows slightly creasing together in pleasure. You press light kisses on the pale part of his neck, sucking harshly, leaving love bites of your own and running your tongue over the bruised flesh.

He grabbed you by the neck, putting his lips back on yours. His kiss was deliberately slow. Teasing. Savoring the taste of the red wine on your lips. His fingers are pulling at the hair at the nape of your neck. You wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him even closer, wanting to feel the hardness of his length against your stomach. Fingertips pressing into the curve of your neck as his tongue sweeps over your mouth. 

You moan into the kiss, feeling his phantom hands squeezing your ass, tracing the band of your underwear. His fingertips brush over your nipples. They’re cold with his ice magic. You shiver and his mouth curves in delight. The tip of Dorian’s nail grazes the hardened bud before he bends down and takes your nipple in his mouth. Your underwear is sticky with your arousal.

He keeps his eyes on you, watching how your head tips back, how your lips part as you begin moaning breathily. He rolls your other nipple between his thumb and index finger, leaving goosebumps on your skin from the coldness of his flesh. He sucks roughly, moaning around the bud as you pull at his hair, and then he tugs at your nipple with his teeth. His tongue laps over it before he begins sucking again. 

“Feels so good,” you mumble, trying to catch your breath. You can feel him grin in satisfaction.

Dorian releases the abused flesh and he starts repeating the same motions on the other nipple, but this time it’s harsher, more animalistic. His hand starts trailing down your stomach and then cups your clothed cunt. A chuckle leaves his lips at what he found. “You’re so wet.” 

He dips his hand in your underwear and runs a finger through your folds. You start to slowly move your hips, rubbing your clit on the heel of his palm to relieve the aching tension. “Stay still,” he warns, “or I’ll stop.” You groan in frustration, but comply, hesitantly. He circles the entrance to your hole, gathering the wetness that had pooled there, and then slips a finger inside of you.

Your back arches the same time as you let out a choked moan. You clench around him, fighting the urge to rub your clit against his palm. Painfully slow, in a teasing manner, he thrusts his finger in and out. He takes his time in stretching you out. Your voice is husky as you say, “Kiss me.” You open your eyes to see that he’s already looking at you. Pure desire in his gaze. 

“Kiss me,” you repeat again. He obliges. There’s nothing gentle or soft about the kiss. It’s messy and fast and rough. Your teeth are clashing against each other, desperate to taste each other. Your breaths are labored, trying to breathe in more air.

He enters a second finger and when you gasp, he shoves his tongue inside your mouth. You dig your nails into the meat of his shoulders before brushing your thumbs over his nipples.

“Since that night I’ve thought of doing this again,” Dorian admitted. “I fucked myself to the thought of you. Imagining it was you stroking my cock.”

His words made you clench around his fingers. You could picture it. His eyes closed, head leaning back against the pillows, and his hand gripping his cock, squeezing hard. His groans coming out hoarsely, loudly. There was a sense of triumph in knowing that you had made the King of Adarlan fantasize about you. It was satisfying. 

“So have I,” you also admitted. 

“Tell me,” he demanded.

You swallowed. “I shoved my fingers inside my cunt and wished that it was yours instead. I thought of your tongue on my cunt, of your hand around my throat and your cock inside me.” 

Dorian’s fingers thrust faster the same time phantom hands tug at your nipples, a warm feeling blooming low in your stomach. Your moans were coming out in short gasps. “Dorian.” Your fingernails leave marks on his broad shoulders and your head tips back. “I’m so close.” The pressure that had been building was becoming more intense. He whispers words of encouragement and praise. 

And with a curl of his fingers you cry out, arching your body into him as your orgasm hits you. Your breath comes out in stutters, your body jerking and your knees trembling. His phantom hands help keep you upright. He coaxes you through it. And when your moans cease, he very slowly removes his fingers from your cunt with a squelching sound. 

He brings them to his face, inspecting the wet sheen on them. Dorian smiles. “Look at how soaked you are.” Your arousal coats his entire hand, dripping down to his wrist. And while he keeps his eyes locked on yours, he puts his digits into his mouth and tastes your juices. Your breath hitches. His sapphire eyes darken considerably. 

The palm of his hand rests on your collarbone and he gently pushes you until your back is lying on the bed. He reaches forward and rips off the lacy material of your underwear. After tossing them across the room he takes a step back and greedily takes in the sight of you; a thin sheen of sweat is covering your body, your nipples are red and swollen from where he sucked and bit on them, and your cunt is dripping wet. 

“I need you,” your voice snaps Dorian out of his daze.

He starts to undo the button of trousers and pushes them down, removing his undershorts also. He steps out of them quickly and tosses them aside, and his cock slaps against his abdomen hard. You take in the sight; the fine patch of dark hair, the tip of his cock is red and leaking with his arousal.

You lick your lips, desperate to have his cock in your mouth. The previous time you fucked each other, you only briefly got to lick him, and you had forgotten what he’d tasted like.

He wraps a hand around his cock, giving it a firm stroke. He hisses. “You see what you do to me?”

Dorian walks forward, kneels on the bed and uses his phantom hands to restrain your wrists to the mattress. He lowers himself between your legs and an almost pained look crosses his features as he stares at your core, wet and gleaming for him.

It was a slow torture, him slowly kissing the inside of your thighs, nipping at skin and leaving love bites. His thumbs draw circles into your hips, and you keep squirming, wanting his tongue on your most sensitive part, but he seemed keen on the idea to tease you.

“Dorian,” you rasped. He would continue teasing until you begged for it. It’s what he wanted. You held his gaze and watched as he waited, a grin was on his face, but you could see his body trembling with restraint to keep himself from ravishing you. “Please.”

He cocks his head to the side, mockingly, and his grin is feline. “Because you asked nicely. . .”

Dorian took a long, languid lick up the center of your core. You let out a moan in relief and your eyes fluttered shut, enjoying the feeling of his tongue sliding up and down you, tasting you thoroughly. He peppers kisses along your cunt before he starts licking again. 

One of his hands comes up to pinch your nipple and you buck your hips against his face, but he throws an arm across your waist to keep you still. He wraps his lips directly around your clit and you cry out as he starts sucking the sensitive nub. You struggle against the phantom hands that bound your wrists. You want to run your fingers through his hair grind against his face.

Grabbing your thighs, Dorian drapes them over his shoulders to hold you closer and keeps his eyes pinned to your face. He wanted to watch you come on his tongue. He pumps his fingers in and out of you, curling ever so slightly. 

“Right there,” you gasp.

You watch as he presses his hips hard against the mattress and begins rutting against it, a soft groan leaving him and it vibrates through your core.

You try to free your hands from his magic, but it doesn’t budge. “Let me touch you.” You look at him with pleading eyes. “Please, let me touch you.” Finally, those phantom hands release their grip on you.

Your body writhes and your fingers rake through his black hair to push him closer, nails scratching along his scalp. Your cries of pleasure encourage him to keep going. His teeth scraping your clit is what makes you climax. His fingers quicken their pace, tongue moving faster, letting you ride out your high.

It leaves you trembling with needing more, but Dorian removes his tongue and fingers from you and leans back on his knees. His eyes linger on your abused cunt before he looks at you and you stare at him, too. Blue eyes full of adoration. His hair was in disarray, cheeks a pretty shade of pink, and his chin and lips were coated with your arousal but he didn’t seem to care.

He looked devastating.

You barely had time to catch your breath before he grabbed you by the hips and turned you around so you were on your knees, ass in the air, and the side of your face was pressed against the sheets. His hand left a hard smack across your ass cheek making a yelp escape your lips. Dorian’s hands once again grab your hips to bring you close to his face, and his fingers tease your entrance, and you arch your back, urging him to bring you another orgasm again.

He laughed teasingly. “So eager, dove.”

He sticks his tongue inside of your cunt and your entire body shudders. He moans, as if this is pleasuring him just as much as it is you. The taste of you was going to haunt him after this was over. The essence of you would haunt him. 

He presses his fingers inside your leaking hole and the pace is fast, desperate to draw a third orgasm from you. Dorian wanted you to come again, and again, and again. He needed you to come again. 

Another harsh slap to your ass has you moaning out his name. Your hands clutch the sheets tightly and you rock your hips against his face, and unlike last time, he doesn’t try to make you stay still. He lets you grind yourself on his face and makes his phantom hands rock your hips to move them faster. The tips of his fingers would leave bruises from how hard their grip was.

Lewd noises were coming out of his mouth and your face warmed from the sounds.

Your body trembles as he flicks his tongue against your clit repeatedly and you feel yourself come again. A loud cry echoing against the walls of his room. He hums against your cunt, letting the vibrations further stimulate you. It isn’t until your whimpering that he finally relents. You’re panting, strands of hair clinging to your forehead, and your knees give out beneath you.

“You’re doing so good for me,” Dorian praised. He presses a kiss against your spine. And then another. His hand rubbing your red backside from the slaps he gave. His ice magic soothing the tender skin.

“Dorian,” you mumble.

“Are you okay?” he asks, running a strong hand down the length of your spine gently. Your skin prickles.

You manage a weak nod.

“Use your words.”

“Yes,” you murmur. Your eyelids were heavy and the perspiration felt sticky on the nape of your neck.

He helps turn you around so you’re laying on your back. You drink in the sight of him and he does the same. Dorian’s lips were shining with your arousal and his cock looked painfully hard. You wanted to kiss him. You reached out a trembling hand, and he eyed it before taking hold of it and leaning over you, bracing his body weight on his elbows. His nose brushes yours softly.

“Kiss me,” you breathe. He brought his mouth to yours. You could taste yourself on his tongue. You were both frantic and desperate, and didn’t want to pull your mouths apart from each other. 

You cup his face, rubbing your thumb along the sharp cheekbone as your other hand played with the strands of his hair. His body was trembling and whatever self-control he had left was slipping away.

You reach a hand down, gripping his length and give it a lazy stroke. He makes a soft noise at the touch, slowly moving his hips as you start pressing kisses onto his collarbones. His forehead resting on top of yours, eyes closed and savoring the moment. You run your thumb over the slit, gathering moisture before giving a gentle squeeze that makes a low growl leave Dorian. That last bit of self-control was completely gone.

He takes his cock and lines the head of it up with your cunt and in one motion, he fully sheaths himself inside of you. A sigh of contentment leaves the pair of you. His pace starts off slow, languid. Your hips roll against his, trying to find a rhythm that matches. His hands roam over the sides of your body before landing on your plush hips. Fingertips digging into your flesh.

“Tell me how you feel.” He licked the side of your throat.

“Good,” you pant. “So good.” 

“You like me being inside you?” His tone was teasing, mocking, but you could hear how gravelly he sounded.

“Yes.” 

He presses kisses to your lips, your neck, your collarbones, the swell of your breasts. Tongue flicking over both nipples. Your legs lock around his trim waist, bringing him closer to you and you clench tightly around him, and his hips jerk, drawing two mirrored moans of pleasure from you both. Your head tips back in bliss and your entire body is buzzing from pleasure.

Dorian’s eyes were a shade of blue so dark they looked like the freezing cold waters of the sea. He moans out your name like a prayer and dips down to kiss you again, as if one isn’t enough. Your hands run up and down his chest, the tip of your nail scraping his nipple. His thrusts were becoming rougher, deeper, more punishing than before. Your breasts bouncing with every snap of his hips.

One of his phantom hands started rubbing your clit and a low pressure was beginning to bloom in your belly, making a breathy gasp leave you. The walls of your cunt start contracting. Hot, heavy, open-mouthed kisses leave a thin string of saliva connecting your lips. It was messy. Both of you were moaning into each other’s mouth. Both of you sounded so needy.

Dorian buried his face into the crook of your neck. A cry left your lips as his teeth bit down on your skin. His thrusts were brutal, each one bringing you closer to the edge, hips snapping into yours hard enough that the headboard was banging against the wall. He obviously didn’t care if someone heard. And neither did you. The fingers on your clit were moving faster and your body was shaking. “Please, please, please. . .”

That familiar coil settled in your lower abdomen snaps. Your back arching off the bed as you come, the walls of your cunt clenching around him rhythmically, and you bury your forehead into the crook of his neck. Nails leaving red marks on his shoulders and down his back, and toes curling from the overstimulation.

Dorian fucks you through it, and his groans are growing louder and his thrusts harsher; he was going to come. He breathes out a desperate, pleading noise, leaning down until his forehead is pressed against yours. He fucks into you harder. The sound of skin-on-skin reverberating through the room. You give him words of encouragement, pressing quick kisses to his lips.

He comes with a deep, guttural groan. His hips stuttering. And you feel his seed spill into you as he rides out his high, fingertips gripping your hips so tight bruises would probably appear. His thrusts start to slow down before eventually stopping, and he pauses for a moment, panting heavily, before collapsing on top of you, unable to hold himself up any longer.

You brush back the damp strands of hair that cling to his forehead. Both of your bodies are shaking and slick with sweat. His breath tickles your skin. 

There were no noises in the room anymore save for the sounds of both of you gasping for air, but it didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable. Dorian’s fingers loosened their tight grip on your hips and rubbed the flesh tenderly. A sigh of contentment left you. A passionate and generous lover indeed.

You could feel him start to grow restless. You unlocked your legs from around his waist and he gently pulled out from you with an almost inaudible hiss, and rolled onto his back right beside you, trying to catch his breath. The air in the room grew cold, his magic cooling the both of you off.

Your limbs felt heavy and you could feel his seed spilling out from you. You closed your eyes for a moment, still feeling the tingling sensation all over your body. Deep down you knew that no one would ever fuck you as good as Dorian just had. You didn’t know if this would happen again or if people would find out that you had fucked their king.

A small part of you inside felt sad knowing that you would be staying at the castle for only one more month before leaving to go back to your city. But you knew it was just sex. You didn’t expect anything more. It would be foolish to.

You could feel Dorian’s eyes burning into the side of your head, his lips parting. “Perhaps we should do this again.” The words were spoken nonchalantly, but you picked up on the tinge of nervousness. “Make it a three-time thing.”

You lifted a shoulder in a casual shrug, making yourself appear calm, and felt a grin tugging at your lips. “Maybe.”

[hlizr50]

@cheap-spirits @idfendyr a little sneaky peek

[pvrkacciosan]

The Heart of the Lioness: ☽⋆35⋆☾

Stairwell to Freedom

The Heart of the Lioness Masterlist

Previous Part

There's an eruption of hushed voices, whispering to avoid the attention of their queen and the accusation of disloyalty that would ensue if they were caught uttering such slander.

But all can now bare witness as the Lioness of Doranelle. The Seductress of the North. The Commander Brielle. Kneels for Aelin Galathynius or merely the symbol of her house. The Crest of House Galathynius. It's mighty stag glows with the cresting sunlight and rain splatter, many civilians still crowded in the street cowered from under the stare of the Lord of the North as though even he had begun to scrutinise how pathetic they had become from within the wove of fabric.

 Maeve whips around in anger as the voices of many mock and berate in the covers of silence, pointing a hand to Cairn. "Get her out of her. Now." Despite the anger that bubbles clearly in the eyes of her people, Maeve manages to slip on her composure. A mask well fitted through years of highly tuned practise.

Cairn take the couple steps, grabbing for Brielle. She hisses low under her breath. The flesh on her back burning, the wounds ripping open anew. The male was unbothered as she scratched at his hands holding tightly to her arms, dragging her body back through the city. Her blood leaving a trail so pungent it might permanently taint the stone walkways of Doranelle. Forever tainting the streets.

Even through the burning that ripples up her spine and over her shoulder, Brielle scans the crowd for her group, trying to meet any of them by the eye. They are no where to be seen as Cairn continued to drag her limping body on.

The weight of her limbs was growing, the pain blooming through every nerve of her back. A lifetime of agony passes before they reach the heart of the city, and it's a painful climb up the steps to the castle. Cairn lets her legs batter off each one as he ascends. Perhaps willing the bruising to take form on her shins.

Once inside, he tilts her to the stairwells that would go downwards into the ground, to the cells below.

Fenrys couldn't see her like this, but her mind was growing fuzzy as they descended down. If Cairn dumps her in the room with them. Brielle could only imagine the reaction. To see a loved one in such a state...

Her legs wobble on the stone steps, and completely give out from under her. Cairn swore loudly as he careers into the wall to keep them both from tumbling down into a heap. Grabbing her legs, he lifts her body.

Brielle screams at the pain that launched down through her at the movement, fire igniting in her back, his hand digging into the bleeding flesh at the base of her spine.

"You're so much louder than the other Fae bitch." She knew by the way his voice dips that he is referring to either Aelin or Vera. Knew it would grate at Brielle and knew she wasn't strong enough to combat it.

When they finally reach the bottom of the stairs. Brielle, even through the heaviness of her eyes and the way the hallway spun, expected him to put her down to open the door, expected it to be locked. To keep the other locked inside.

Instead he simply gives it a swift kick, and the door swung open. The scents lingering within are familiar but... faint. Distant.

It's dark and Brielle squints to see, the sight makes her stomach drop.

The wall where Vera had been... was empty.

Pain radiates as her head whips, Fenrys is gone too. His spot only signified by a vacant patch of dust that outlines the position of where he had laid.

Cairn dumps her unceremoniously on the stone. She cant't help the cry that leaves her, a scream so childlike it didn't sound like her. So broken it echoed around her, a room so empty. Void of any other heartbeats, beside her own thrumming loudly in her hearing.

Aelin's coffin was gone too. The only evidence her friends had been here. Their lingering scents, and the iron shackles on the wall, where Vera had been.

The muscles forming around her ribs, begin to cramp as she shifts, trying to drag herself away from Cairn. He had moved to the side with those shackles, iron shackles made to bound fae and cut off their access to everything that made than more than mortal. Collecting the chains slowly as though to prolong her anticipation, his smile had only widened when he turned to face her.

Brielle's bones are rattling, limbs shivering in pain that continued to swell. The world was weighing down, Muscles aching with every movement she tried to yield them to.

"I do hope you don't mind the lack of company." Cairn was approaching slowly, spying the fatigue that she fought with. A battle worth the wait. Like a predator waiting for their venom to work, to paralyze their victim. He glances around the room for emphasis, a faux pout on his expression.

"That friend of yours. The Owl." 

She can't stop the shaking, muscles giving over to their own commands now. Fixating all her wavering energy to his words. 

"The Guards shot her down outside the city border."  the shackles rattle as he passes them between his grip. Smoothing his finger down to unlatch them. A wicked grin hidden under the shadow of his face.

Whatever strength she had been holding to, left her in that moment at those words. Surrendering to the darkness as the Iron Shackles were bound around her wrist. Her body slumping with the weight of her own pain, mind growing absent in the darkness, growing cold at the lack of power that filled her now. Utterly alone once more.

~

Teyra was panting– hard. She climbed up the hill behind Corbin, his pale clothing a focus point as she hauled her ass up the incline. It was the one thing she never cared for, the steep inclined that were involved with returning to Doranelle. Would have been happy to never have to climb them once again.

Tightening the strap of her pack across her chest, Teyra eased a hands on her knees at the apex of the hill that overlooked the city. She could hear Elide asking questions, marveling at the sight Teyra knew the human girl now observed,

Corbin shifted to watch her, a second later his hands are flying in a flurry of movements. 

"Hold on" she rasped, taking a second to swallow the sensation of blood in her mouth. Straightening to allow oxygen to flood freely to her lungs. "Right, go ahead" She was aware of Gavriel watching them as Teyra translated Corbin's words, the hand signs and gestures fast paced.

What if we run into Isaiah?

It was a question Teyra had been avoiding in her head since the moment she decided to follow Rowan to find Aelin and the other. Despite his urgency to get them back he had taken her aside one night, the night they had felt Aelin's surge of power. Turning for Doranelle, have given her the option to turn and regroup with other Pride members. Had offered the decision to her. If only he knew her past.

Memories of her sister threatened to come to the surface, but Teyra had to ignore them. Had to put aside any of her emotion around Isaiah. The male had been a brother to her since they met. Since she realised he had known her sister, Brielle too.  But Isaiah had always been there when Brielle was away, had been there to comfort her when she thought of her sister. Or woke from a nightmare about her father.

He had been the one to indulge her infatuation with other males. Had always listened to her, taught her to wield a blade. Protected her from males who sought the wrong thing. And yet... 

She couldn't bring to think of what she would do if they crossed paths. She knew what needed to be done. But would it be her hand that did it. Her blade.

She didn't need to use words, not when Corbin had perfected the act of reading an expression. He brushed a hand to her shoulder, soft and gentle. Squeezing the joint he nodded, a single movement that almost had tears rushing to her eyes. 

Blinking skyward for a second, Teyra turns away, ignoring the way Gavriel watches her. A knowing look on his expression. Brielle had always warned her of his instincts, Teyra almost becoming an extension of his sister in his eyes. 

It was clear, as Gavriel had stayed close with both her and Elide when necessary. The calmer of the three ex-Cadre members. Corbin moved with her as they proceed to stand beside Elide, to glance across the city before them.

"Fine." Rowan ground out, depleted. It was clear the two spies had joined in at the ending of the conversation, Gavriel twisted to them both, tawny eyes scanning them with a feral quick assessment. "We rest for the night. Then attempt into the city tomorrow."

The group seemed to move then, with Rowan leading them. The rock formations scaling down the side of this incline could make descending rather treacherous. It was no surprise he slowed to aid Elide in her descent. The women's ankle must be agony even with the magic scent from the males in their group.

Teyra stilled at the top of the outcropping, staring to the city. Small plumes of chimney smoke rose, capturing the warm glow of candle light inside the windows of the houses. This had been her home, perhaps once everything was over, they could start anew. It was a wonder whether she might still be positioned here with the Pride or follow to wherever Brielle chose to reside. 

Corbin bumped her shoulder softly, jerking his head sideways, and extending an arm to let her pass first.

She smiles softly moving to follow behind Gavriel. She can faintly hear Rowan speaking to Elide at the front of the group. An updraft of wind blow their way and the group stops, the scent of fear perfuming the molecules.

Lorcan breaks first, darting forward to Elide's side. Teyra tries to watch the front of the group, but can't get a great look, she stops struggling when a strangled sound, breathing, no vocals attached echoes behind her.

Whirling quickly, she spots Corbin's expression, he simply points towards the city before them and Teyra finally turns back, jaw falling slack at the sight. The same moment Gavriel speaks up, 

"She's summoned most of her forces," Gavriel seemed to be as shocked as the other two males, Corbin tried to gather Teyra's attention but her gaze if so fixated on the sheer size of the forces gathered around the city.

Numerous fires blow smoke into the air, tents pitched in every free space, land ram packed with Fae warriors. A flood plain of size that swelled around the bridges that entered into the city.

"She brought an army to keep us out?" Elide's voice is soft, worried. Rightly so, if that it what they have to get passed to reach Aelin and the others.

The two spies don't miss the wary expression Lorcan watched Rowan with, "Or to keep Aelin in."

Rowan didn't flinch to acknowledge Lorcan, just kept staring out to the forces to the city in its centre. Perhaps recognising some of the squads of Fae warriors, how many of them had he trained? Teyra follows his gaze, Inside that city somewhere... Brielle had to be there. Isaiah too, but Teyra had to focus on ignoring that  thought.

"We have allies in the city. We could try to make contact. Learn where Maeve is, What the hosts rallied here to do. If there's been any mention of Aelin." Gavriel offered, his expression pinching as he glances outwards into the basin below.

"Maeve is capable of worming her way into a person's mind." Rowan was stuck in his thoughts bouncing between their conversation and plotting any way to obtain access to Aelin. " She likely knows who our allies are and might have already compromised them." 

Teyra began thinking, when Maeve had captured her and Isaiah before dragging them to the beach, Isaiah had been ordering the movement of all the spies in Doranelle. To move the whole Spy court, to stay hidden. It was likely none remained. She felt sick at the thought, he had known of his own betrayal. Perhaps moving his people so that he did not have to fight against them. Coward.

So as far as allies of the Pride go... unless. "What about Enola?" she had muttered the words, aiming them to Corbin. He tilted his head in her direction. Despite the low tone of her voice, Rowan caught the words. Eyes hopeful.

"Enola. She-" The explanation caught in her throat, these males had spent years around the female and hadn't known she served Brielle. "Enola she is a member of the Pride. Might still be in the city."

"Might she know of Maeve location?" Gavriel turned his body to glace at her fully. 

Teyra laughed softly, even if it hadn't been the time for it. "I would hope so. She is stuck with the bitch almost all day everyday."

The males took a second on her words, Lorcan catching on first. "The Owl."

Teyra nodded once, glancing back out to observe the city, hoping Brielle hadn't forced Enola from the city. Something that was most plausible knowing Brielle. To get everyone but herself out of harms way first, before even contemplating her own escape.

Gavriel had titled his head back, a shallow laugh bubbled from his throat. Marveling at the magnitude of his sisters empire. The vastness it held in itself, from nothing more than the shadows.

Corbin twisted, hands flying, We need another plan, in case Enola is compromised by Isaiah

His thoughts had been following her own then, Teyra nodded almost to herself as Elide observes the male spy. Silently, Corbin continued signing, more to himself, Teyra blanks, head rising until she locks stares with Elide.

The women watches her too, even as she speaks softly, "Maeve doesn't know me— or barely does. No one here would recognise me, especially if I can... adjust my appearance. Like I did with spreading those lies about the Valg prince. I could try to get into the city tomorrow and see if there's anything to learn."

"No." Lorcan's word are sharp, But Teyra ignores him, if Elide could get in. Both ends of the city entrances would be guarded. One might need an alterative way into the city.

Elide turns to level Lorcan with a stare so dark it matched his own. "You're not my commander. You're not in my court."

Teyra stills watching Elide turn to address Rowan, the male is unmoving and no reaction is portraying itself on his expression.  Even as Lorcan began protesting, "She doesn't know the city layout, doesn't know how to handle the guards—"

"Then we teach her, " Gavriel pulls the attention from him. "Tonight. We teach her what we know."

Lorcan practically bares his teeth at the male for offering such a solution, But Rowan wasn't entirely listening, simply analysing the way a King might as the conversation went back and forth.

"If Maeve remained in Doranelle, she will sniff her out." Teyra watches as Lorcan shot a panicked look over his shoulder to the city at his back, as though waiting for it to pounce and snatch Elide away like some predator.

"She won't," Teyra glances across to Corbin, who was focused on listening with his arms folded over his chest tightly. He shifts his gaze to meet her stare from the corner of his eyes, nodding softly.

"She found you on that beach, " Lorcan raises his voice a tone, chest heaving in anger.

Elide lifts her chin in utter female defiance, eyes burning with molten rage, Rage for the male who had betrayed her trust, her love. "I'm going into that city tomorrow"

Lorcan squares his shoulders, to make himself a shield, to try and stop the women from entering the city, Teyra takes half a step forward, head tilting high to meet Lorcan stare, before flicking to survey Rowan.

"She won't go in alone." A nod in Corbin's direction, "We can get her in and out safely."

"You will be recognised in Doranelle. Did you forget you lived here too?" Lorcan snaps, teeth making an appearance in a snarl.

"If you want to keep those canines Commander, I'd put them away" She leveled him with a glare, fighting the urge to flash her own tipped teeth. Corbin stepped closer to her now, staring down Lorcan as Teyra once more turned to Rowan.

"We can do it."

Gavriel rested his arms across his chest beside Elide, "Lorcan does have a point, you might be recognised."

Though she could understand his stance in the matter, She tried to fight the amusement. "The only one who poses any real threat to us is Isaiah. We get her into the city and out, but otherwise we'll keep our distance. It what we're trained to do. No one will even know we're there." A soft laugh, a moment to commemorate for all those souls who had suffered the silences following a hunting Pride. " They never do."

Gavriel scoffed, a humorous one, perhaps still in shock. His sister had been the one to train them both, amazement was the only thing she could sense in his presence. Pure feral amazement, that rooted to the look of pride now on his expression.

Rowan was still, not even the whisps of his hair being tossed by the wind seemed to bother him, he glaces to both spies. "How are you getting over those bridges without being recognised?" His brow was creased in concentration, trying to perceive from their angle

"Simple." Teyra relaxed her arms, shrugging "We don't."

Elide tilted her head, the loose strands of her dark haired falling from the braid over her shoulder.

"We don't use the bridges to get into the city." She said it like it was common knowledge. It was almost surprising, these males; Commanders in Maeve's Cadre in Doranelle for centuries didn't know of the vaults that run under the city.

"That's impossible there is no other-" Lorcan pauses as Teyra and Corbin both lock gazes and smirk.

"Fucking Brielle..." Lorcan swore her name, the way a gods name might be uttered in this world. Like a warning and a prayer, 

"Alright," Rowan was nodding, a thumb rubbing into the lower side of his chin in thought. "You get in. Stay close, but do your thing."

Teyra understood the words he didn't say aloud. Read it clear in his winced expression. Stay the fuck out of sight, don't cause trouble. As though he could sense the swirling thoughts in her mind. A bubble of words filled with anger for the male who had betrayed them. 

They began settling down for the night, whist going over their plan. But Teyra couldn't shake those gut curling thoughts. Ones filled with the truly horrid things she might do to Isaiah if he was to show face. What she might not be able to contain herself from doing if something had happened to Brielle. 

Even long after everyone had fallen into sleep, she had sat awake, the cool breeze chilling her through the thin material of her clothes as she watched down the valley basin, to the sprawling sleeping city below. Unknown for what might await her tomorrow.

Even as Teyra wrestled with her exhaustion, The Ghost didn't get much sleep that night.

☽⋆❈⋆☾

The ancient vaults under the city were dusty, and oddly warm against her skin. 

The trio wandered silently through each tunnel, Teyra leading at the front, Elide behind, holding to the edge of Teyra's sleeve and Corbin a silent presence at the back of their three person group. Using little more than her heightened fae sight and memory of the passages Teyra led them further below the city.

Led them deeper and still tried to fight off her thoughts from the night. Had Isaiah moved their people through these tunnels to get them out of the city, and to safety. So he wouldn't have to face them. Her throat tightens sharply.

They had already spent almost thirty minutes inside the tunnel. But it had been an hour since they left their small camp in the forest cover in the rolling foothills, She had led the fae males to the exact spot where they would exit the tunnels, the planned meeting point; the hidden entrance to the vaults outside the perimeter of the city. 

If her memory served her right, they were no more then two turns away from an exit into the city. She was leading them to the most protected vault door. One that opened into a shop floor, hidden inside a closet stuffed with dresses and layers of fabric, A seamstresses' shop. One Brielle frequented often whilst  she actively served Maeve.

Elide's grip was soft, hand tightened around the sleeve of Teyra's shirt, being led down that final lane. There was a soft, warm light that split through the edges of the hatch, a door overhead. 

"Stay quiet, stay here." She whispered, hands fumbling to find the ladder swinging in the dim light.  Climbing onto its first slat of wood, she crawled to the hatch, reaching a hand above her to unlatch the lock. Wedging the hatch up she steps up one more slat before throwing the door open.The hatch bounced of the floor boards in the shop.

Light poured into the vaults below, Elide and Corbin glancing up at Teyra when she emerged up into the shop. Scanning around through the main floor. Listening silently for any movement, There was a soft padding on footsteps, movements rather shuffling then actual steps. Madame Ellis. 

Teyra had met with the old seamstress a couple times over the years, when collecting or dropping off dresses for Brielle. The Vaults hatch was hidden inside a closet which was filled entirely with those same dresses. Glancing around Teyra could recall the orders of many of them. Could envision Brielle in donning the dresses on each mission. The dresses, each individually designed for different purposes, build to draw attention and subdue males. Some had pheromone scents built in- other had toxins soaked into the fabric. It was a dangerous gamble to wear such gowns, But Brielle wore them they way she might wield a sword.

Resting down against the wooden floor Teyra waved up Elide first, holding a hand she hauled the women up into the space beside her. Corbin's pale head of hair emerged a minute after. 

Using her arm to move aside the dresses hanging from various pegs on the wall, Teyra slide the door open, a sliding door made to appear as the wall panels from the shops main room.

"What is this place?" Elide asked, fumbling with Lorcan's oversized shirt she wore, the green cape from Rowan was dragging slightly against the wooden floorboards around her feet, as she ducked through the narrow door. 

"It belongs to a seamstress. She works with Brielle on occasion-"

"Your commander is my best customer." A voice sounds behind them, in that moment, Madame Ellis entered in from one of the back rooms, a steaming cup of liquid in her shaking  boned hands. Madame Ellis was curled forwards, spine hunched into an unnatural curve as she moved for the workbench. Not even questioning their presence with a wayward glance.

"Madame Ellis" Teyra dipped her chin, the aged women smiled softly in recognition. Hazel brown eyes gleaming at the aura of their presence in the empty shop room. Notable void of any customers.

"I do hope you are here to get her out." Madame Ellis eased herself down into a small armchair, it creaked under her weight but held as she settled, hugging the cup in both hands, The old women sighed taking a quick sip before giving them an expectant look. Those hazel eyes were wrinkled at the edges but held an unnerving amount of seriousness as she watched them.

"She's here?" Teyra probed, tilting her head to the side.

"She was here not too many moons ago. Wanted the Nicklinson dress. Her majesty had a task for her." she fumbled a hand around the handle of the mug, "Heard some of my customers talk of the Commander in the camps. Put quite a show with her majesty's blood sworn" Trying to ignore the obvious mention of Cairn. Teyra could only imagine what havoc that monster would be reaping with his new found title and free reign.

"Where is Brielle now?" Elide shifted slightly, eyes going soft as the elderly women turned her attention on her. 

Madame Ellis pondered on her thoughts, wrinkled brow creasing, "I'm not sure." Worry forced a small sound from the seamstress. "I'd be careful where you look. Had some male here the other day asking me similar questions. Trying their hand at why she had been here a few weeks ago."

Madame Ellis turns her attention to a table, where two small coin pouches sat, sealed by little blue ribbons tied at their tops, Madame Ellis stared at them for a second, "She is a good female." she sipped from her cup adverting all her attention now. "Make sure she gets out."

Teyra nodded silently, "We will." it was a vow Madame Ellis only acknowledged with a gruff small sound, easing the cup back up to her lips to blow at the tendrils of steam. 

End of discussion then.  In common fashion, Teyra slipped a hand into her pocket as the trio moved for the door, Corbin leading Elide around the varying layers of fabric and rolls of colourful material. Pulling free a small coin pouch, it was no where close to the size of the ones left by Brielle but it would do.

The lack of wandering customers wasn't the only indicator of the shops low income, Teyra couldn't seem to ignore the paint peeling like liquid off the walls, soaked by leaking water dripping in from the corners of the ceiling. She dropped the leathery bag beside the two others as she slipped out the door. 

If Madame Ellis had noticed it, she didn't say anything.

This side of the city was quieter than most, shops were run by an ageing demographic and only a couple warriors would wander past, patrolling the streets in pairs.

From this side, it may only take them a few minutes of walking to reach the more populated alleys where they may hit the information they need.

Elide slowed beside her, tucking a hand into a pocket in Rowan's cloak, 

"I will ask around about Cairn. He is bound to know or be with them." She had tugged free a small mirror, little more than a shard of glass. Using a small handful of berries she had begun to red the rim of her eyes, rubbing the natural dye to give the appearance of a weeping women.

"We will be on the roofs mostly but don't stray too far off the main streets. There is no telling who Cairn has on his side." Teyra watched out into the street beyond, the daylight streaming up the stone ways, the distant sound of voice travelling through the air.

Elide gave a stiff nod, staring at her reflection in the glass for a further second before she wrapped her hand around it, stuffing it back into the cloak. Hugging the fabric around the lines of her torso she nodded once more, with a reassuring amount of conviction this time.

"Okay."

Teyra waited allowing Elide a moment  to gather her senses, allowing them to calm herself, 

"Once you're done. Come back to this spot, and wait for us. If something goes wrong go back to Madame Ellis and wait inside the hatch, she will cover for you." 

It was worth to note that whatever Elide had been saying to herself had worked, as a new set of determination seemed to fixate itself to the women's features.

"Let's do this."

☽⋆❈⋆☾

The stone slated tiles of the roofs were slick with rainfall. A significant challenge to hold onto, even if the moisture hadn't soaked through to her skin, her sweat was making it difficult to keep grip. 

Corbin didn't seem to be having as much trouble, scaling around the brick side of a chimney he swung himself down, perching on a stone outcrop of a building. He glanced sidelong at her awkwardly gripping to the spine of the rooftop, fingers cramping under the tension of her grip.

Relax your grip. He signed, head titling to meet her gaze from where he watched Elide in the street below. Laid flat to avoid being seen by anyone that may glance upwards to the roofline.

Teyra would have thrown a vulgar gesture his way if she didn't need her hands to keep herself from slipping off the tiles, settling for straddling the rooftop she hauled herself up onto the flatter surface of the spine, using only the muscles in her arms she dragged herself over towards Corbin.

He watched her, amusement tugging the edges of his mouth, This time she didn't hold herself back from the urge of a vulgar sign, Corbin huffed a small laugh before turning his attention back into the street below.

This was the second building they had moved to, tracking Elide as she ventured through the crowd. Picking the rooftops which offered them the best view of her form, observing as she spoke to groups of warriors. They were too high up to hear every words, especially over the commotion of the streets busy bodies, milling from tavern to tavern. Shouting drunkenly down the walkways.

Warriors off duty from the camps no doubt, How many times had Teyra sat in those exact seats? crowded by a gathering of her friends drinking away their small amount of wages at the end of each week.

Her stomach curled, Isaiah had purchased her first every drink the night she arrived in Doranelle. He and Brielle had been helping her... Sort somethings, Teyra could still remember the aghast look on the barmaids expression when the three of them wandered in, covered in blood, dripping rainwater all over her benches. They had sat there, near the fire pit drinking ale to keep warm late into the night, ignoring the looks of the other patrons as they scowled at their blood soaked clothes and skin. They hadn't cared, not for a second as the three of them drunk and enjoyed the solace of one another company simply because they could.

How far they had come from then, that night she had been on the top of the world. There was nothing holding her back and she was free of all guilt and burden. Teyra couldn't help the painful twist of her stomach now, at those memories. Moments in time frozen in the past.

Corbin was kneeling silently beside her attention tracking the women in the street below, a good thing, at least he was paying much more attention then she was right now. 

Elide had moved across the street, and the two spies moved to the connecting roof, a simple small jump, tracking her through the crowds.

As Teyra settled down, where they were almost directly above the human girl, Corbin froze. Still standing, Teyra spun eyeing up Corbin, His pale complexion was an easy spot from the streets below, they had to stay out of sight. She waved him down, if they got spotted by one of the warriors..

"Get down" she hissed low, But Corbin didn't look at her, 

His attention was fixated onto the street far below, the old square of the city. Teyra watched his expression shift, brow creasing in concentration, 

You smell that?

Taking her attention off Elide now, Teyra twisted on her stomach to meet his gaze, Scenting the air around them, the scents pulls her attention outwards to the square. She could smell rain, and an obscene amount of ale... Body odor and something else.. It was fainter almost washed out, drowned by the other scents. But completely identifiable by the hint of iron.

Corbin's sense of smell was unparalleled, He would be able to piece through the scents like a needle through water. By the way his expression pinched he was doing just that, he lowered himself to the tiles and crawled closer to the edge of the building.

It seemed impossible for him to go any paler, but somehow his body managed it, for when he looked at her, Teyra could only sense the worry rolling from him.

"What is it?"

Corbin turned back out to the square, as though to confirm anything for himself before he answers. 

Blood. Brielle's blood. Corbin signed quickly, leaning onto his elbows to overlook down into the square below, eyes trailing across the street searching the cobbles for where the scent was at its strongest.

Teyra shuffled closer, couldn't resist the urge to, despite her mind fighting to keep an eye on Elide. "What? How old?" It was a wishful hope that the commontions of the street might mask the sound of her voice, 

Corbin twists on his stomach, freeing his hands to sign, Definitely Brielle. It's been washed by the rain, a week or so, maybe less.

A knot lodges itself in Teyra's throat, whatever had happened, Brielle had been hurt. The thought alone had bile rising up the back of her throat, to bleed enough for it to still be tainting the stone...

It was hateful that she knew how much a person had to bleed to sustain that. Could still envision the bodies in her past, bodies Brielle had helped to bury. Her commander, her friend who had helped her then. Teyra needed to help her now,

Pushing with her hands, palms kissing the wet slates of the roof tiles she lifted and slide back, Corbin's head tilted down to watch her, Where are you going?

"To look for Brielle."

That's not part of the plan. Who is going to watch Elide?For emphasis he cast his attention down the street to where Elide was talking to a table of three soldiers, two males and a female. It was vital they kept an eye on her, for if one of Cairn's followers found her out...

"You can stay, I'll go look." She continued to drag herself back, not giving Corbin a second to respond. 

You lack the sense of smell for such tracking.

Teyra couldn't help but scowl at the male. Partially insulted even though she knew the truth. Corbin got his name for the same reasons she did, knew no one could hide from him, dead or otherwise. There was no point in hiding that fact, 

So as The Ghost slipped back into the mist coating the building walls, The Hunter followed silent as death's incarnate. 

As Teyra slunk closer to the wall, letting Corbin to shift past her, allowing The Hunter to do what he did best: Hunt.

Lorcan would kill them for leaving Elide in the square, but the female had been more than willing to venture into the city alone, What difference would their presence mean anyway, they couldn't be seen.

Corbin's pace quickened, feet light on the rooftops. Teyra followed closer, tried to ignore the anxiety building a coil in her chest. The male before her lifted himself down, clinging to the pipes attached against the walls to lower into an alley. 

The pipe was narrow and the metal was slick and cold to touch but wrapping hr hands around it, she slide down. Teyra got only one foot onto the solid ground before Corbin was exiting the alley at the far end, Swearing under her breath Teyra jogged, hugging to the wall. 

Corbin was like some sort of bloodhound, with his head held low and attention unwavering he followed the scent of their commander's blood from street to street, travelling further into the heart of Doranelle.

Teyra had to rush to keep up, dodging the sight of people as Corbin continued relentlessly hounding down road after road. Casting a sidelong glance at the buildings around them, Teyra swore widening her stride to catch up to the Hunter. They were only getting closer to the Palace and she had a feeling she knew where the scent would lead.

"Corbin." He didn't seem to notice her, from behind she watched his pale head of hair swish as he turned his attention following the trail of blood, Theres a clatter of a door swinging open in the alley surrounding them but Teyra continues, Grabbing for his elbow, "Corbin"

The male spun, a snarl pulling at his lip, Swallowing her nerve Teyra released her grip and backed a step. Something wild had flared to life in his eyes, unnerving and cold. Even after knowing the male for years, Teyra couldn't help but feel the part of prey being watched by its top predator. She took half of another step back allowing Corbin a second to himself, A hollow look painted his expression, eyes flaring wide. 

Teyra waited silently, Corbin inhaled deeply, his shoulder bunching before he looked at her. 

Sorry, His head dipped and fist bunched at his sides. Perhaps in an attempt to ground himself to now rather than the past.

"It's okay. I get it." And she did, they all did, Every member of the Pride had their past that made them an asset. Harnessing those talents brought things to the surface. Being as old as he was it came at no surprise that Corbin might loose himself to the side of his soul that bargained for his Pride title.

Hesitantly, Teyra reached forward to clasp his hand, to offer comfort to that pained ripple on his expression. A feeling she knew too well. Fingers brushing up the side of his arm, Corbin stiffened. Bone hardened to stone under her touch, His head snapped up nostrils flaring wide-

"What is it?"

But as she lifted her head, glancing over his pale shoulder,  Teyra answered her own question, 

They had stopped in an alley a few turns from Maeve's stone castle, It was narrow and long, and as Teyra looked at the mouth of the passage her blood turned to fire in her veins, alight and wild. She harboured no such magic as Brielle did, her demi-fae status meant she couldn't even shift into an alternative form, But that didn't matter as every drop of fae heritage in her blood fired to a live wire inside her. Ancestors screaming in her ear as she met Isaiah's gaze.

He was little more than a singular figure standing, blocking the light from reaching them. Hands stuffed into his pockets, he was the image of normality. It did not matter that he was one of the few males in the world to harbour every secret the Pride had to offer. Didn't matter he did, not from the moment he plunged a dagger into Brielle's gut, It didn't matter if he had been a brother figure to her, not as Teyra released a blade from her side and lunged at him.

Corbin had spun to try catch her, but Teyra twisted quickly, and raced down the alley.

Isaiah widened his stance and pulled free his hands from within his pockets as Teyra collided with him. Isaiah went down with a loud thump legs scattering out under him for balance, Teyra hung off his neck with one arm, dagger clutched tightly in the other as she drove it towards his throat.

Isaiah huffed and used the momentum of their collective downfall to throw her from him, Teyra went flying into a wall, the stone bricks cracking off her spine. Ribs were burning but she didn't pay any attention to her body as she gritted her teeth, tightening her fist around the hilt of her dagger she launched herself off the wall.

She swung once, sidelong for his abdomen, Isaiah jumped back, missing the blade's sharp edge by a breath, 

"Teyra!" Isaiah yells, she swung again ignoring the way her body seemed to protest the wrongness of her movements, His hands were up in defence, eyes darting to where Corbin had moved closer, the other male didn't dare interfere not as Teyra snarled at him. Canines on full display, Wise male.

She spun her whole body, legs flying out catching the side of Isaiah's head, The skin on his face splitting, the heel of her boot making contact with the bone below his eye, Isaiah stumbled, Teyra used her momentum, driving the dagger down into Isaiah's thigh, Holding it there she glared up as he collapsed to his knees.

Isaiah cried out, hands flying out to clasp around her own, to keep Teyra from ripping the blade free from his leg, 

"Teyra." he gritted her name through his teeth, mouth tight in pain, She twisted the hilt, Isaiah jerked but didn't let go, His hands shook around hers, his blood coating them both,  

"I'm sorry" Isaiah said the words so quiet she almost didn't hear them around the blood thrumming in her ears, 

Tilting her head down Teyra tightened her hand around the blade pushing it further into the muscles, Isaiah hissed but still didn't move, Voice low, Teyra leaned closer "Don't you think we're beyond apologising"

A pain much more harmful than physical abuse ripped through him, A muscle under his eyes twitched drawing her attention to where his face had already begun to bruise. Seeing the pain in his gaze made her hands shake-

In one movement she ripped the dagger free, Isaiah fell backwards, and began to drag himself away from her as she rose, towering over him now.

"Teyra you have to listen to me" Isaiah continued dragging himself back, wincing each time he moved his body across the stone,

Corbin watched carefully, hand tucking into his side clasping firmly to the hilt of his own blade as Teyra crept closer, Pulling her dagger to her she lifted it, the little light in the alley casting off it. 

"I  don't have to do anything for you." Her voice had dropped a few octaves, heavier then her usual sweet tone, unfamiliar now to the male on the floor.

Isaiah was panting, shaking hand applying pressure to his thigh which had already begun to heal, he watched as Teyra, the female he had helped raise as a sister, lifted the blade high waiting to drive it down into him, to finally kill him after all this time.

In one final attempt of pain and want Isaiah stilled, not backing away from her as though he was ready to accept a traitors fate. He waited, meeting her stare.

Could she do it? 

Kill him. The male who had helped murder her father and seek revenge for herself and her dead sister, For Elleneta. Would her sister see badly of her now as she posed herself to kill Isaiah. Her sister had left her with their father, She should be the one seeking Teyra's forgiveness.

Raising her arm high, Teyra brought the knife down to Isaiah throat.

"Brielle told me to betray her."

Isaiah had spoken with his eyes squeezed shut, body flinched to prepare for the blade. Only after a beat of silence did he peel open his eyes to meet Teyra's gaze. She was close to him now, dagger inches from his neck.

"You lie." She angled the weapon to press his throat, Isaiah tilted his head back to speak round the blade, 

"When have I ever lied to you?"  Even with her instinct screaming, Teyra couldn't help but think back... He had never once lied to her.. about anything, regardless of whether it would hurt her or not.

"I don't believe you-" Her words must of hit harder then she anticipated as Isaiah winced even as he tried to hide his reaction, 

"It's believable of Brielle, no?" He sighed, "She needed someone on the inside to track Maeve. Needed to have someone she could trust."

"She had Enola for that." 

"Maeve has long suspected someone in a court was running secrets out from under her. And Enola is gone from the city. That's why Brielle..." He paused, weighing up the silence around them, the scent of Brielle's blood lingered stronger here even Teyra could smell it. Burning into her memory.

Teyra tightened a fist into his shirt, yanking him towards her, "Brielle what?"

"That's why you're here isn't it?" Isaiah had leaned to the side to send a pointed look at Corbin, the male shifted into her view, and as Teyra looked over her shoulder at him, He was standing still with his pale arms folded over his chest, listening to every word Isaiah spoke.

"Her blood. Maeve found out about Enola, Through me-" the blade itched closer to his throat,   "-because Brielle told me to. She needed Maeve to trust me, So when Maeve went to whip me." The words clogged inside his throat, swallowing hard Isaiah continued, "Brielle took my place."

Teyra moved back, closer to Corbin. Isaiah rubbed at his throat and glanced to the two Pride members. It did sound like something their commander might do. 

"It was never her intention to be captured by Maeve. She needed someone in Doranelle to keep her insight."

"So you agreed knowing... You would be here alone. With them." She didn't need to voice who she meant for Isaiah to understand. They had always understood since living in Doranelle with Brielle. Cairn and Maeve would make any living space hostile by simply their presence. Isaiah only nodded once. 

She cast one look at Corbin, just one to know he believed the male. Corbin had known Brielle longer than she and from that one look she slide her blade back into its place. Turning to Isaiah, she tried to ignore the anger that still course through her like liquid fire.

"Where is Brielle?"

Isaiah propped himself upright, reaching into one of his pockets he pulled free a ring of metal. Keys jangling off the hooks. "Let me show you."

~

Ever bone in her felt thin, absent of all strength as she slumped further into the wall, her arms drawn up by the iron chains cupping the wrist joints. Brielle couldn't fight a deeper breath into her lungs, not as slow shallow wisps of air were all she could manage with the pain.

Left in the cold the whips brutal lines on her back had festered, a dull ache spread through her ribs when she inhaled, each intake for oxygen was agony. Brielle had lost track of how many days may have passed since she'd been left, despite trying to keep count of the inconsistent meals that were thrown to her from under the door on a metal dish.

It didn't matter that she was offered food, she hadn't eaten even a crumb of the meals, couldn't risk the potential for iron to be lacing her food. Didn't trust the smirking male that delivered each plater. So she stayed very still, conserving every ounce of the withering strength to heal, a slow process that made every inch of her body itch. Skin, bones, nerves, If her hands weren't bound by iron she would have scratched her flesh raw, would have spilt more of her blood to seek that satisfaction.

Brielle's only solace; the cool air that flowed freely in from under the door, its cold kiss numbed her back and the wounds which had scabbed, spiderwebs of brutalised flesh. Moving too much would rip the wounds anew, so even when her limbs grew stiff she stayed in her position, curled to keep her internal warmth. To keep the cold from doing too much damage.

Brielle just had to keep breathing, a steadying to maintain her ground, hold onto the grasp of reality. Clinging to the fading scent of Fenrys, He had been with her yesterday, or at least Brielle could have sworn his touches were real, sat in his fae form, hand stroking through her hair, unknotting the dried blood. Whispering to her of the life he would make for them once the war was over.  The love he would smother her with. 

The back of her throat still stung from her begging him to not leave when the lines of his body had faded as though he had never been there beside her, had never been. When darkness overtook her senses and she had awoken what felt like hours later to be alone once more, her sobbing had continued.

Now forehead planted firmly to the ground, she could only listen to the jangle of keys as they rotated in the lock. The light pooling in as the door slide open after days of darkness.

Days. Weeks, however long it had been. Light finally flooded the room, spilled onto the half of her face that pointed to the door.

"Brielle-" The voice sounded hollow, far away travelling to her ears on a distant wind. Another illusion, fabricated by her own mind to salvage what might be left of her fracturing sanity. Keeping her forehead to the floor, unsure whether she could even lift her head, Brielle focused on her breathing. 

There's a hesitant footstep as the person entered, joined by another presence at the door. This secondary form was quieter, more subtle in their movements. Brielle squeezed her eyes shut. Just ignore them. They would leave her alone soon. Would leave her, just as Fenrys had.

"Gods..." The distinctly feminine voice was closer, footsteps softer and shadows covered Brielle's face now. A presence crouching beside her.

"Why isn't she healing?" The question was directed back to the open door, to where another figure stepped hesitantly into the archway, 

"The Iron." This voice she knew. Some part of her clicking into place, healed at the voice. Felt warmer at the comfort it ignited. Isaiah.

"Brielle." The females voice was soft. Brielle felt a featherlight touch brush her neck, as though this imagined presence was hesitant to touch her. Then the hand clasped one side of her cheek, then the other, tilting her head back. Her dried tears had the skin of her cheek stuck to the stone, a dull pain bloomed when it was peeled from the stone.

"Commander." There was urgency this time, something about the way it made her blood hum did Brielle begin to fight her eyes open. 

She recognised the dark hair, those eyes...

"Elle-" Her throat rasped as she tried to speak, The grip cupping her cheek softened, fingers retracting off her jaw.

"No.. Comma- Brielle. It's me. Teyra." Not Elleneta, Not the friend she had lost when everything began in Vallen. The friend who had become her family by choice. Not her, but her younger sister.

Teyra knelt beside her, cupping the sides of her face gently. It was just her imagination, a foul trick spun by Maeve perhaps, to weaken her resolve. To torture her beyond recognition. Brielle tried to turn her head back to the wall, to hide but Teyra's grip held firm.

"We have to move." Teyra shuffled, a second figure lowering beside her, leaning to inspect the chains tethering her to the wall.

Brielle distantly watched the hand drift for them, the light toned hand. The person skin too pale it was almost white, too clear to be normal. She had only known one person with that complexion. 

The Hunter smiled softly down at his Commander. Her friend, bowing his head to her before turning his attention back to the chains.

Pain launched through her back, fire licking down her spine when he lifted her arms. Whole body tensing at the movement, Brielle had to grit her teeth hard to stop herself from screaming. Not that much sound would come from her, not with the rawness that ravaged her throat.

"Is there a key for these?" Teyra had turned to the final figure still in the door, Fighting the strain in her muscles Brielle turns to watch Isaiah as he limped into the room. Holding to his thigh when he stepped closer.

Despite the pain that bled down her back in warm waves, Brielle couldn't help but worry for her friend. Her longest living friend, Who had been with her through everything.

He shook his head once, holding the ring of keys in the air. "These are just to the cells. Cairn keeps the others on him at all times." He held Teyra's stare for a second before finally his eyes shifted to meet Brielle's. Something akin to a hollow pain shadowed on his face at the sight of her back. Knowing she had taken that whipping meant for him.

She had been waiting for him to meet her gaze. Waited for this moment of recognition between them. To finally be able to act as what they had once been. No more acting to have betrayed one another. To recontinue their friendship, their loyalty to one another, an unspoken vow they shared.

"Hey Bri." Isaiah's voice broke, a singular note that had him swallowing to breathe. 

Brielle opened her mouth to speak, but nothing would come out, not words or sounds. She just kept staring, couldn't stop. 

Her back screamed in protest as she moved her arms under her, iron shackles biting hard into her wrist as she wobbled to sit up, Teyra gave a soft nudge helping her. When Brielle was upright, Isaiah finally moved.

He dropped beside her on the stone floor, didn't care how it hurt, didn't care how loud he was as he began crying. Full body sobs that careered him forward into her torso.

Brielle couldn't care as she sobbed softly, holding her arms wide, he fell into them. The lines on her back burned as their embrace pushed her spine into the wall but instead she cried harder, wrapped her arms tighter around him.

They wouldn't require words to express or discuss what they had both been through in the past few months, not when it was so clear they both understood. The way they always had, silently acknowledging one another.

Her lip quivered into his shoulder, pressing her face there. He hooked his head into her neck, his arms tightening around her. This time she couldn't forgo the hiss of pain that slipped her, 

Isaiah's whole body locked up against her own, finally realising that their position would be pressing right into the wounds littering across every inch of back. He slide out from their embrace, but froze when Brielle gripped her hand around his forearm. 

"Good thinking with the flag." She squeezed his arm for emphasis, even as Brielle noted Teyra sending Corbin a confused look. Neither of them knowing the full extend of what had happened at the square in the city.

Isaiah smiled, the rims of his eyes red and a hint of bruising under his left eye as though someone had landed a punch there. She could question it as he turned noticing her attention. 

"I couldn't let you self sacrificing tendencies go to waste." There's a hint of amusement in his tone now, marking the return of her friend.

"Speaking of things going to waste. Can we use this time to get her free?" Teyra's expression was hard, despite the hint of a struggle her brow pinching together. It was clear she didn't wholly trust Isaiah, hadn't forgiven him for the emotions she had felt after he 'betrayed' them. 

Corbin was still inspecting the chains, hammered into the stone by a metal peg that curled over the chain, locking it into place. His hands skimmed over them, careful to not jar the metal links too much.

What if we shatter them somehow?  He sat back on his legs, hands flying as he signs. 

Teyra shifts on her knees, allowing the space for Isaiah to inspect the shackles. 

Isaiah sighed, shaking his head. "There is no way. This iron-" he lifts the chain and nods to the cuffs around Brielle's wrists. They somehow seem heavier, deadweight's on her arms when everyone turns to survey them.

"There is something mixed into the iron when its smelted, something that subdues our strength and power. It cannot be broken." His attention shifts to where its secured to the stone wall. To where Corbin in gripping the metal peg. 

Teyra follows his line of sight. That peg had to be curled into the stone, had to be bent somehow. She nods to it, "What about that? Is there some way to disconnect it from the wall. Could we rip the chains free?"

Corbin inched closer, inspecting the stone around it, We may be able to rip it free. But not if its dug deep into the rock.

Isaiah rose from the ground, "Then we have to try." 

Brielle bit into her lips, hoisting her hands beneath her thighs to drag herself back, allowing the space between her and the wall, giving up the area required for the spies to position themselves. Readying to free her with their sheer strength alone.

Isaiah and Corbin took hold of the chain wrapping it around the forearm for better grip, Teyra took her position closest to the wall, taking hold she planted a foot to the wall. Nodded once to the two males over her shoulder and as a singular unit they began to pull.

The tension snapped the chain straight, fighting them as they pulled. A tug of war between three immortal powerhouses and a metal pin. The chains groaned, but they kept wrestling. 

Brielle moved further back, collecting some of the slack chain into her lap, watching as the three grunted in effort, 

"Keep pulling." Isaiah urged, from the back, his legs straining to keep himself from slipping.

"Speak for yourself." Came Teyra's quick retort, she heaved moving her hands to pull the chain from closer to the wall, 

There was small movement, a slither of dust falling away from the stone where the peg was nailed in, 

"Yes." Teyra breathed, feet shifting to tug harder, "yesyesyes"

Brielle crawled out the way, with just enough time as the three bodies fell back, the metal pin flying clean off the wall. The sound of it clattering off another wall, resounded from the other end of the cell.

Isaiah was panting from beside Brielle on the floor, he was smiling as he rose. Glancing to the pile of now slackened chains that pool before them all. 

Didn't think that was going to work  Corbin sat forward, breathing heavily through his nose as he signed, Teyra laughed softly from beside him, rising up onto her feet she dusted her hands off quickly. 

"Come on. Let's get back, Need to find Elide before Lorcan kills us." She held a hand out for Corbin, hauling him to his feet. He patted her shoulder once, Teyra turns and hesitates before holding a hand out for Isaiah.

Brielle watched the interaction closely. Sees the hurt on Isaiah's expression at her hesitation, even though he does well to hide it. His smile is hidden and weak, he takes her hands and helps pull himself up. 

Something sour twists in Brielle's stomach, she had suggested this plan to Isaiah, hadn't forced him to go through with it. But she was at fault for the tension between them now. Had put that wedge between Isaiah and the female he saw as a little sister. She had done that to them. and only time could help them.

Corbin had approached her while Isaiah and Teyra took a moment with each other, hand lowered himself before his commander with a rich smile. 

It's good to see you old friend. Corbin's pale hand squeezed at her arm, above her elbow smile tugging his expression.

Brielle chuckles, signing back silently, Likewise.

When she had sent out the letters from skulls bay, she knew contacting Corbin would be one of her better ideas. Knowing even if they had died in Doranelle or elsewhere, he would have been able to track their scents even long after their deaths. 

It was the secrets that lied in his past that had allowed for such heightened senses, even if they both tried to forget it, even after Brielle had helped him gain his freedom and his revenge.

Let's get you back to your brother. Corbin gave her a knowing smile, even as her head sagged with relief. 

"Who is all here?" She turned to Teyra, as Isaiah did. 

"Your brother. Rowan and Lorcan are all outside the city. Elide is within somewhere." There was no hiding the edge to her words as she mentioned the human female. A tension that passed through Teyra and Corbin, shooting each other a quick glance.

"Elide is alone?"  their sudden silence was answer enough. 

"We had other priorities." Teyra cast her gaze sidelong at Isaiah who didn't balk away from her attention, Weathered his way through it. Brielle smirked at the familiarity of that expression on his face. It was one she had seen her brother forbode on more than one occasion. 

"We have to move." Brielle spoke, she tried to unfurl her legs from under herself. They shook relentlessly. The atrophied muscles straining, quivering with each movement. She fumbled with the chains taking that grateful second to steady herself in preparation to rise to her feet.

A hand curled carefully into her bicep, smooth and uncalloused. Corbin. It took a second to register the touch in her mind. To recognise it as a genuine connection and not just some fucked up delusion. Had to remind herself what was real.

Brielle shook the grip off her arm, "I can do it." She grappled the conviction to her, Planting one foot flat, back curling as pain fired down through her ribs, she whispers more to herself one last time, "I can do this."

Pushing her weight down through her legs. Brielle gritted her teeth. Her legs wobbled at the knees, unfurling a hand and throwing it against the wall for balance. The movement was sudden and sent a frightful amount of searing pain down her spine that extended down through her limbs.

Teyra had moved herself closer, now positioned opposite to Corbin, the male's hand outreached, preparing to catch his commander should she falter.

Focusing on her contact to the wall, palm sweating against the stone. Taking a steadying breath Brielle tried to move, to take just one step.

Holding onto that last shaky breath Brielle tried to move-

Her knees buckles

There was a clatter of chains, hands lying to grip the wall.

Corbin's arms circled her, The sleeve of his shirt brushing the exposed lines on her bare back. The material must have snagged her jagged flesh. The scent of her blood perfuming the air grew stronger, her back pulsed in confirmation.

"Fuck." someone distantly swore from behind her, probably seeing the flesh bloom with colour beneath the the fabric of Fenrys' shirt still clinging in ribbon off her shoulders. Ripples of pain blanched to her head. She swayed into Corbin, his hand on her hip keeping her upright as her head swirled.

Corbin's arm hugged closer to her shoulder to avoid the majority of the wounds, folding her arm up over his neck. Brielle tried breathing through the pain, but each ragged breath retched the open flesh of her back.

Corbin shifted free his other hands, moving it in a circular motion, I'm sorry. He winced in guilt, flinching from her attention.

"It's okay" Brielle muttered, tone little more than a whisper even as her head continued to spin. A second arm curled behind her other shoulder, positioning her arm over their shoulder.

"We've got you." There was a swell in Brielle's throat as Isaiah glanced to her tucked under her arm.

"Let's go." Teyra urged already moving for the door, she dipped down collecting the chains in one swift arch downwards.

With males on either of her sides, Brielle was able to take those first few steps towards the exit, to freedom, to fresh air. They were slow moving, holding Brielle supported between them whilst she fought for purchase on the floor with feet that felt too numb to hold her weight.

As they ventured over the threshold on the cell and down the first passage, Brielle began scanning very stone hallway. Waiting for Cairn to appear. To reap more pain through her.

"Cairn should be out at the Eastern Camp." Isaiah uttered beside her. When she looked sideways at him to try and meet his attention his brow was pinched but Isaiah kept focus on holding her to him, moving with Corbin to keep her upright.

Isaiah had somehow read where her thoughts had gone, either because of her frantic attention shifts down each hall they passed or from her scent, which even through her efforts probably had hints of fear integrated.

The Lioness would never cower before a weak male such as Cairn, but reminders of his torture currently scarred almost every inch of her back and made pain sizzle to life on her nerves. It was difficult not to fear the pain he could inflict.

Teyra turns, eyes tracking their movements as they drew closer to her. Assessing the dynamic then surveying the stairs before them, "The stair well isn't wide enough for all three of you."

Brielle tilted her head to stare at the monumental feat that was sure to have her panting in agony by the time they reached the top. The spiralling staircase was indeed not wide enough for them all, so silently Corbin dipped out from under her arm. Ensuring she had hold of the nearest wall before letting go, taking up position behind them.

Brielle took one singular deep breath as they began.

Isaiah still held her, a wall of steadying muscles. Each one of her movements were becoming more of a stumble rather than an actual step and each was excruciating, almost as painful as when she received the whips.

They only made it ten steps up, "Stop-" she clenched her teeth tight. Jaw aching as she heavily drew breath through her teeth.  Sweat had begun beading her hairline, dripping down her back, it stung each line mixing with her blood. It dripped to the steps.

Teyra was only a step ahead, worry creased the lines of her features, early onset panic that had her casting an anxious look to the males, 

Brielle hung her head between her shoulder, baring down she swallowed the taste of blood in her mouth. "Keep going."

"Brie-"

"Keep going."

Teyra shot a glance at Isaiah, who only offered a stiff nod. Brielle felt him secure his grip once more, lifting her weight with him at each steps,

Lift one foot. Then the other. Then the first one. And again. Again. She couldn't look up the stairwell, couldn't bare to see the sight of how many more they would have to endure.  One foot, then the other. Again. Again. And Again.

She was panting hard, nails digging into Isaiah's shoulder through his shirt, which she balled inside a fist. The sweat had rolled down, sticking her hair to her brow. 

"Are   they   alive?" She had to take a gasp between each word, grunting as they ascended another step. The chains rattled between them swinging in the silent stairwell echoing off the walls. 

Isaiah stiffened, and Brielle's stomach dropped low, almost making her forget the pain. 

"I know Cairn has them at the Eastern Camp." His words were shallow as they climbed, almost at the apex of the stairwell.  "Whether they live. I wasn't able to get a closer idea, since Maeve left-"

"Maeve left?" Brielle couldn't help the confusion that only seemed to addle her brain even more as she panted, wincing as the knees almost buckled once more. Isaiah grunted bearing down the brunt of her weight against him.

"That might have been us." Teyra laughed, turned over her shoulder with a shadow of a playful smirk on her lips. "We may have spread some lies about a Valg collar at an outpost in an attempt to draw Maeve out."

Brielle heard Isaiah's soft laugh beside her ear, "Well, looks like it worked, she upped and left with no word."

They were just a couple steps from the top. One more step, one more foot, then the other.

Brielle could have cried in relief when they stopped on the top landing.  Would have cried if they didn't all grind to a halt at the sight of the person before them.

Cairn's vicious smile shot ripples of pain down through her, the scar responding to him. 

His eyes narrowed in on Isaiah still tucked into Brielle's side, "It's a shame weak males don't have the stomach for betrayal." 

That vicious smirk giving way to feral delight, "This is going to be fun," Cairn cackled as he threw a dagger straight into Teyra's chest.

. . .

Taglist: @dreamiezpsycho@lunaralaraspace@mis-lil-red@mali22@the-fae-are-taking-over

Next Part

A.N: I do apologise for this being so long, Have had to split this into two parts to cover everything... Hope it isn't too much and makes up for my lack of activity. Started my degree the other week so have had a lot going on. Hope to post more soon!

[sunshinebingo]

Welcome to Kinktober 2023! Today it’s time for Nesryn/Sartaq. I hope you enjoy! This is making me nervous ngl

Set My Eyes On You - Rated E - 4k

Nesryn is determined to find out if her feelings for Sartaq are mutual on their Fall Friends Trip. But when she finds herself sharing a room with him in a sex cabin, she soon realises that confessions through words is not the only option.

Listen, I know this was supposed to be kinky. But these 2 wanted to take the cute friends to lovers route. Not my fault sorry. It's still very smutty though.

A Kink in Our Plans - Throne of Glass Kinktober 2023

10/25 - Introduction

10/26 - Chaol/Yrene by @headcanonheadcase

10/27 - Dorian/Manon by @hlizr50

10/28 - Rowan/Aelin by @thelovelymadone

10/29 - Nesryn/Sartaq by @sunshinebingo

10/30 - Lysandra/Aedion by @vikingmagic33

10/31 - Elide/Lorcan by @shadowsxgwynriel

[wolpromptaday]

‪#WOLpromptAday #FinalFantasyXIV‬

‪November 14 2023‬

‪Your WOL has to spend a (platonic) day with G’raha Tia!

‪What are they doing? Is it official business or leisure? Tell the story about their day together. ‬

[justreadertings]

Till Death To Us Part Returns!

The people have spoken! (I was probably gonna do it anyway lol) I never thought I would come back to this fic but I am... pumped. Can’t wait to share them again. But I’ll leave you guys with this...

Then, they moved onto the ceremony and she tried not to bristle as her country moved to the edge of their seats. Rowan spoke more pretty words, her body still on high alert, and she had to focus on his shiny bandolier for most of it, lest she lose her nerve. For a moment, she mourned. When she’d been twelve, she told Rowan that one day they were going to get married out in the gardens and the little patio would be covered in wildflowers. She’d told him that only Maeve and her parents were allowed to be there. And her dog, once she was finally allowed to get one. 

She never expected the big crowd, the huge decorations, the formal words. She’d always just wanted Rowan and a kiss.

But Aelin supposed she could ignore the castle, and imagine the patio when Rowan finally leaned down

Taglist:

@leiawritesstories

@tomtenadia

@fireheart-violet

@backtobl4ck

@morganofthewildfire

@rowaelinismyotp

@aelinchocolatelover

@thegreyj

@foughtconquered

@swankii-art-teacher

@booklover242

@stardelia

@numbers-colors-fashion

@bookcide

@viajandosinalas

@rowanaelinn

@elentiyawhitethorn​

@emily-gsh​

@athena127​

@captain-of-the-gwynriel-ship​

[darklove9314-blog]

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: A Court of Thorns and Roses Series - Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass Series - Sarah J. Maas, Crescent City Series - Sarah J. Maas Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Nyx (A Court of Thorns and Roses)/Original Character(s), Feyre Archeron/Rhysand, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius | Celaena Sardothien/Rowan Whitethorn, Hunt Athalar/Bryce Quinlan Characters: Nyx (A Court of Thorns and Roses), Original Aelin Ashryver Galathynius | Celaena Sardothien/Rowan Whitethorn Child(ren) Summary:

When Evalin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius's world is in danger she makes an impossible choice to leave it behind in order to search for a way to save it. With the help of Nyx Archeron, they will set off on a journey to save her court before it is too late.

[spellbinding10]

So I don’t know wether it’s just me but… in relation to SJM male Characters I see a lot of (beautifully sketched and painted) fan art of the men in her books as well as fan casts! However I don’t know if it’s just me but I find them a little too… “ pretty”. They seem to all be sharp jawed sharp nosed, sharp eyed, where there should be variations etc.

For example: Rowan, this man has been around for centuries, fought in hundreds of battles earned his scars, had his fair share of heart ache and trauma . He is well built, strong and… in my opinion quite rough and rugged throughout most of the books due to travelling on the road and training etc. that’s why when I look as fan casts and drawings I don’t feel they are well matched to the character. Therefore I would like to propose…

Now this is a fae warrior, swift, agile, elegant but leaving a trail of blood and brutality in the wake of his enemies! (Big up Henry for his amazing sword skills in the Witcher).

Full disclaimer and I will repeat this throughout my post, I think the fan art drawn by SJM fans is absolutely stunning, I don’t think it’s wrong or anything like that! This is just how I interpret the characters looks

Moving on!!

Chaol:

For me as a captain of the kings guard, Choal would be well groomed, sturdy, swift and lean due to his training. Though still young he possesses a look far greater than his years, mostly due to the weight and pride that his position comes with. We know he has a stern look but also a quick witted funny side (when he’s not being fucked on my Aelin lol). So… I would like to propose….

The amazing Will Poulter! I just think he has such an interchangeable face that flits between the young man that could have stayed to become Lord and the hardened, sturdy, stubborn, and well accomplished captain of the kings guard!

Lastly, Dorian:

Dorian is a well pampered, confident and handsome young man of 20. He is sharp featured, not as well built as say Chaol but toned and strong non the less. His trauma has weighed on him but he still remains confident ( especially in regards to Manon) though quite and observant. I feel after all he has been through he began to look at bettering his skills rather than being concerned with his looks later on in the books. So I would like to propose….

Timotheeeee (King 2019) I feel Dorian has hardened himself to the gentler and vulnerable things in life after everything that has happened and has had to ,more importantly, protect himself by denying himself that privilege to be vulnerable.

Once again, I LOVE the stunning fan art that SJM fans make! This is just how I interpret the characters. Thank you for attending my tedtalk!

[olivialau]

Shadow's Embrace Ch.2

Sukuna x Reader

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fanfiction based on the universe of "Jujutsu Kaisen," created by Gege Akutami. The original manga, anime, and characters belong to their respective owners and creators.

Notes:

This story unfolds in the Jujutsu world, set in a slightly altered universe where Sukuna inhabits his own vessel distinct from Itadori Yuji's body, making him a separate entity.

Summary:

Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses, becomes fascinated with a female sorcerer rich in potential but lacking control. Initially seizing her for his destructive plans, Sukuna aims to bind her abilities through a contract. Yet, as he tries to dominate her, he finds himself intrigued by her strength and determination. Over time, his interest evolves from strategic advantage to a deeper, personal connection.

-----------------------------------------

CHAPTER 2 - Evil Proposition

The moment your eyes fluttered open, a sense of disorientation and dread washed over you. The atmosphere was heavy, an oppressive white fog that seemed to seep into your very bones.

As your vision cleared, you took in your surroundings with growing apprehension. The once familiar walls of your dorm room had been replaced by a dark, eerie space, the floor beneath you damp and uneven. Jagged rock formations jutted from the ground and walls, bones littered the area, casting unsettling shadows. The sky above tinted with dark hues of green and blue.

You realized with a sinking feeling that you were no longer at Jujutsu High, but trapped within what could only be an innate domain – a manifestation of a sorcerer's cursed energy that warped reality itself. And you knew, without a doubt, whose domain this was.

Sukuna.

Gritting your teeth against the throbbing pain in your wrist, you attempted to rise, only to find your movements hindered by the wet muck under your feet. Panic began to set in as the realization of your situation dawned on you. You were at the mercy of the King of Curses, trapped in his own twisted realm.

A low, chilling chuckle echoed through the chamber, sending a shiver down your spine. "Don't worry, this is only a manifestation of my innate domain," Sukuna's voice reverberated, his presence suddenly looming over you. "I haven't imbued it with my cursed technique... so you should live a moment longer."

Your gaze instinctively followed the sound of Sukuna's voice, and there he was, perched atop a towering pile of bone and skull, looking down upon you with an air of absolute dominance. The contrast in your positions was not lost on you – he, the mighty King of Curses, seated high above, while you, a mere mortal, remained trapped and vulnerable at his feet.

Sukuna's crimson eyes gleamed with twisted amusement as he observed your apprehensive expression. "Ah, I see you've finally graced me with your attention," he hummed, his voice dripping with condescension. "Tell me, human, how does it feel to be in the presence of true power?"

He leaned forward, his gaze boring into you with an intensity that made your breath catch in your throat. "Do you understand now, the futility of your defiance? This is my domain, my realm, where I reign." A cruel smile curled his lips as he spoke.

Slowly, Sukuna rose to his feet, the bones beneath him crunching as he descended from his makeshift throne. With each stride, the oppressive weight of his cursed energy intensified, bearing down on you like a tangible force.

His approach sent a fresh wave of terror through you, the memory of the pain he had inflicted still searing in your mind. Yet, amidst his overwhelming power, a spark of defiance flickered within you.

Cursed energy surged through your veins, a raw, untamed power yearning to be unleashed. Deep down, however, you knew a direct confrontation would prove futile.

As Sukuna drew nearer, his looming presence casting a shadow, you steeled your resolve, refusing to cower. "If you expect me to submit, you're sorely mistaken," you spat, trying to force a sense of bravery that contradicted your immense fear.

Sukuna smiled amusedly, "Oh, I don't expect submission willingly, little sorcerer," he spoke "That's what makes this all the more... entertaining."

Reaching out, his fingers grasped your chin, forcing you to meet his gaze. "You intrigue me," he mused. "Your defiance, your spirit – a refreshing change from the groveling insects I usually deal with."

His grip tightened, a surge of cursed energy coursing through you. "But make no mistake," he growled "I will break you, one way or another. You will serve me."

You glared at him bitterly, resisting the urge to strike. "What do you want from me?" You demanded, unable to grasp why Sukuna would take interest in a young, inexperienced sorcerer such as yourself. You had little to offer, barely a freshman.

"What do I want?" he echoed. "Why, nothing less than total domination."

He leaned in closer, his hot breath caressing your cheek. "You see, I grow weary of the pathetic squabbles and petty power struggles that plague the Jujutsu society. It's time for a change, a true reckoning."

Sukuna's grip loosened slightly, allowing you a brief respite from the agony. "And that's where you come in," he purred, his tone almost conversational. "I need a pawn, someone to infiltrate their ranks and lay the groundwork for my grand design."

His eyes narrowed, a cruel smile curling his lips. "A small... massacre, if you will. Just enough to sow the seeds of chaos and fear."

Sukuna's fingers, now traced the delicate line of your jaw, the sting of his sharp nails like a warning. "And you, are the perfect vessel for this task. Still inexperienced, easily molded, but with great potential."

He's insane, you thought to yourself, absolutely mad. Why would anyone give up all autonomy and throw away their life? Who would willingly agree to something so evil and wicked?

Just as you had found a new purpose in life and promised to use your abilities to protect others from the same fate that befell your dear friend- Ayumi, he was asking you to join a plan that could lead to hundreds of innocent deaths? Never.

It seemed as if Sukuna had been able to read your every thought as he spoke

"Of course, I'm not expecting you to simply agree, not after your feeble attempts at defiance so far," his voice tinged with annoyance. "No, I have other methods in mind."

He took a step back, finally granting you some breathing room from his heavy aura.

"I'm quite familiar with the power of Binding Vows. A contract, if you will, that binds one's soul to the terms of the agreement,"

You had learned about these vows in your first week at Jujutsu High; they were the foundation of Jujutsu Sorcery, and breaking them carried dire consequences.

Sukuna continued, "And once such a vow is established," he paused for effect, "you will have no choice but to obey my demands," his eyes burning with a dangerous light.

Leaning back in, Sukuna's lips hovered dangerously close to yours, his hot breath brushing your skin. "So, it leaves you with a simple choice. You can form a contract with me now, or I can break you, piece by piece, until you beg to bind yourself to me." His voice held a chilling promise, laced with threat.

Then, with a hint of annoyance, he continued to explain, "However, there is a troublesome condition to a Binding Vow that I must adhere to," he sighed as if displeased by the drawback. "You see, it is a two-way street. It needs to be mutually beneficial, or it holds no power."

You couldn't think of a single beneficial condition that would convince you to enter into a contract where you'd have to obey his every command. You valued your autonomy above all else. What could he possibly offer you in return?

"So, that's why I'm granting you the opportunity of a lifetime," his lips curled into a smile. "In exchange for your unwavering obedience, I will train you. Teach you how to channel your cursed energy properly, unravel your cursed technique, and refine it to perfection. I could make you the most formidable Jujutsu Sorcerer of this era." He spread his arms wide, imposing, as he laughed deviously. "How many can claim to have learned to fight from the King of Curses himself?".

The offer was tempting, you had to admit. The chance to harness your cursed energy, to become a true sorcerer, was a tantalizing prospect. You had always had a crave for power, one that scared you at times. But the price was your freedom, your very soul... Besides even with such power, what good would it do if you could only use it to sow destruction and suffering.

So with unyielding resolve you denied him. "Never," you declared. "I'd rather die than become your pawn" your voice unwavering.

Sukuna's eyes glinted with cruel amusement as he listened to your defiant refusal. "Never, hmm?" he mused. "How... disappointing."

"You know, I had such high hopes for you, woman. The power you possess, the potential you hold – it's truly a shame to see it go to waste." He pressed his hand to his face, fingers splayed across his forehead, and let out a long, exasperated sigh, his eyes briefly closing as if to gather patience from within.

Then he continued "But if you insist on this foolish path of resistance, then so be it." His words carried a dark, threatening edge.

Unexpectedly, with a sudden violent kick to your ribs, he blasts you away into the center of his domain. You crash into the wet, gravelly ground, and in the blink of an eye, Sukuna is back atop the massive pile of bones, like a king on his throne. He regards you with a daring expression as he asks. "Are you up for a little game, little sorcerer?"

The impact knocked the wind out of you, leaving you disoriented and gasping for breath.

With every movement you had to grit your teeth against the throbbing pain in your ribcage. You knew this was going to be bad, so you braced yourself, adopting a defensive stance. Maybe to muster a false sense of bravery?

Deep down, you were painfully aware that you were unprepared for whatever twisted "game" Sukuna had devised.

Before you could begin to recover, a sharp snap of Sukuna's fingers sliced through the air. His sinister cackle followed, soon joined by low, rumbling echoes reverberating through his domain. The sound was unmistakable – the presence of curses.

Your eyes scanned the area, taking in the sight of the rock formations that surrounded you. With a sickening realization, you watched as several Grade 3 curses began to manifest, breaking free from the earth itself.

Panic gripped you as the malformed entities emerged, their soulless eyes darting around until they settle on you. You knew you were no match for them in your current state, your cursed energy untamed and messy.

The curses surged forward, their contorted bodies converging on you with relentless ferocity. You still weren't used to the sight of these hideous monsters; they disgusted you, especially knowing the harm they inflicted on innocent people— the harm they had inflicted on Ayumi.

Struggling to stay focused, you summoned your cursed energy, unleashing haphazard bolts from your hands in a desperate attempt to fend them off.

But your attacks lacked precision and control. The Grade 3 curses easily evaded your erratic strikes, closing in on you with each passing moment.

As they closed in, you took hit after hit, your body growing more bruised and battered by the minute. Sukuna reveled in your inexperience and struggle, his delight evident in his expression.

The curses' relentless assault was quickly overwhelming your limited abilities.

Sukuna's laughter, rich and taunting, echoed through the domain, his crimson eyes gleaming with a twisted delight as he observed your futile struggle. "You're putting on quite a show, human" he hummed.

His disdainful remark and complete disregard for you fueled your anger, igniting a surge of energy within. With newfound determination, you unleashed a powerful blast of cursed energy, successfully obliterating one of the curses with a single blow. Sukuna appeared mildly surprised, his eyes widening ever so slightly.

But your moment of triumph was short-lived, as the remaining curses quickly refocused their attention on you and resumed their assault. Battered and exhausted, you struggled to maintain your footing, your body aching from the relentless string of attacks.

Just as you felt yourself succumbing to the weight of your injuries, Sukuna's voice rang out, commanding the curses to pause. A hush fell over the domain, and you found yourself staring up at the King of Curses, his crimson eyes fixed upon you with a calculating gaze.

"Let's make this a little more interesting, shall we?" he called out, his voice laced with a foreboding edge.

With a casual gesture, he reached within the folds of his white robe, and to your surprise, he withdrew a gleaming silver blade with a thick handle. Your eyes widened in suprise as he casually tossed the weapon down the pile of bones, clattering to a stop at your feet.

"A cursed tool," Sukuna went on to explain

"A weapon purposefully imbued with cursed energy, highly effective against curses."

His gaze bore into you, a twisted smile playing on his lips. "I want to see what you can do with it, little sorcerer."

The curses, still held at bay by Sukuna's command, stirred restlessly. With a single snap of his fingers, he released them. They immediately launched another attack, but this time you were armed.

Despite never having wielded a blade before, defending yourself with it felt instinctive. You were certainly relieved that Sukuna hadn't destroyed the wrist of your dominant hand now.

The cursed tool moved like an extension of your own body, allowing you to fend off the relentless attacks with a grace and precision that surprised even you. The blade sliced through the curses one by one, causing them to let out a guttural howl as they disintegrated.

Sukuna watched you from his perch, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of surprise and intrigue. 'Well, well, it seems you're not as helpless as I had thought... but still, nowhere near the level of a high-grade sorcerer,' he exclaimed, dismissing his initial approval.

After what felt like hours, you fought off the last curse, successfully slicing it in half with your blade. Then as if a switch was flipped, you felt the toll of previous injuries catching up to you. It seemed you had pushed your body far beyond its limits.

Suddenly, all strength left your arms and legs, the blade slipping from your grasp and landing on the floor with a loud thud.

Your vision grew hazy, and through the blur, Sukuna's intense eyes locked onto you, the corners of his mouth twisted into a taunting smirk. The world began to tilt and spin, and everything faded to black.

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Thanks for reading and see you the next chapter!

[thescarletnargacuga]

SHADOW PUPPET

PART 4 OF THE UNSEEN SERIES: A HARLEQUIN AU FANFICTION

Harlequin AU credit: @tadc-harlequin-au @iamespecter

Shadowblade is my OC and NOT CANON

Featuring MOTSI, OC by @paper-fowl

WARNING: swearing, nightmare imagery, PTSD

~~~

"OW! Are you sure you know what you're doing!?" Jax loudly complained as Pomni mended a crack in his arm.

"I'm not Caine, shithead. You're lucky I'm even attempting this. Now shut up, so I can concentrate." Pomni focused her energy into the mending tool, slowly soldering Jax's wound closed. It was messy, but at least his inner workings were no longer exposed.

They sat with Shadowblade in the middle of the ruined warehouse where their epic battle with the silver beast ended. The beast's body laid headless, purple fluid congealing around it. Jax was badly wounded from using a powerful energy attack that finished the beast off. He could still fight if he had to, but energy was out of the question until he had more rest. Pomni wasn't too bad off, the only serious thing was some shrapnel in her left leg. Shadowblade needed serious repair, the giant dragonesque puppet had gone into shutdown and was unresponsive.

The sky was still dark. It was hours before dawn. Pomni had her mask to help her see in the dark while she attempted minor repairs. Jax bared the pain of the unprofessional work by occupying himself with conversation.

"Hey, is your pet going to live?" Jax nodded to Shadowblade.

"They better, or getting back home will be a bitch. I don't want to deal with you more than I have to." Pomni commented sarcastically to distract herself from her worry over Shadowblade.

"Ditto." Jax deadpanned. "You gonna call your boyfriend for help? They're pretty messed up." He looked over Shadowblade's torn torso and wings. If he hadn't arrived when he did, they would likely be dead.

"He's not my boyfriend." Pomni grumbled. "But, yes, I'll have to call him. Shadowblade's damage is too severe for me to even attempt to fix. We're going to be here for a bit. Even with his blink, I don't think he could get here faster than we did, and it still took us a whole day."

Jax rolled his eyes. "I told you we'd end up stuck here. Why don't you-.... Uh....why don't..." Jax collapsed.

"Jax??" Pomni put down the tool and double checked what she did, seeing if she damaged him in a way that would make him fall over. "Jax! Wake up! That's not funny! We need to-!!!!" Pomni felt it. An overpowering aura that made the air feel dense. She could sense the direction it was coming from but couldn't see anything yet. She instinctually reached for her sword, but her hand shook too much to unsheathe it. She couldn't stand, her body refused to move from its kneeling position on the floor.

Thunk.

Thunk.

Thunk.

Rhythmic tapping of a heavy metal cane echoed from the far end of the warehouse. Pomni's eyes went wide with panic. Not him. Not now. Please, if there is a god...

Thunk.

Thunk.

Thunk.

A towering, suited humanoid figure emerged from the darkness, within range of Pomni's night vision. The seven foot, bullhorn-head puppet walked slowly but with purpose. He was going straight for the silver beast.

Pomni hyperventilated. The Patriarch was going to kill her. She was defenseless and miles from Caine. She internally cursed herself for not even being able to draw her sword. She watched the imposing figure hold the end of his cane to the silver beast's chest. Firey red energy blazed down the cane and made the end white hot, burning through the beast's armor.

The Patriarch cut a hole over the beast's core with one circling movement of his cane, then held his hand out as though expecting something to be dropped into it. The purple crystal within the beast's chest cracked and shifted out of place before the very core of it shot out and landed in the Patriarch's palm. He closed his fist and pocketed the crystal before slowly turning his head to Pomni.

Pomni gasped, her heart going wild with fear. Everything inside of her screamed to run, but she fought it to stay with Jax and Shadowblade. Even under distress, she would not abandon them.

Thunk.

Thunk.

Thunk.

The Patriarch approached calmly, completely unbothered by anything around him. Then, in a burst of fast forwarded motion, he was directly in front of Pomni, staring down at her.

Pomni would have screamed if she could breathe. Instead, she scrambled backwards; managing to find the strength to back away, at least until she was against Shadowblade. She stared into the Patriarch's single bright red eye, knowing it would be the last thing she would see before the void.

"You have something I want." He held out his hand. His voice clear and derisive, but with a threatening undertone.

Pomni put her arms out against Shadowblade, covering their exposed core like she could stop him from harvesting it too.

Instead, an object in Pomni's vest jumped, drawn in by the Patriarch's telekinesis. She tried to hold it down, but the journal from the basement safe flew away from her and into the Patriarch's waiting hand.

"Thank you." The Patriarch gripped the journal and turned to leave.

Thunk.

Thunk.

Thunk.

Pomni's mind raced as she stared into the back of the Patriarch for as long as she could see him, half expecting him to turn around and put his cane through her heart. The air still felt oppressive even after he was long out of sight. She felt like she was holding her breath for eternity when it finally stopped. She gasped and held herself as she trembled against Shadowblade.

Jax groaned. "Fuuuuck, my head...what happened? What did you do to me?" He sat up, rubbing his head. His chest felt weird as well, like his soul had been disconnected from his body before coming back suddenly. He saw Pomni curled up against Shadowblade with a thousand yard stare. "Hello, I asked you a question."

Pomni didn't respond.

Jax got himself to his feet and dragged his tired frame over to her. "Pomni?"

No response.

Jax has never seen her like this. Something spooked the Harlequin into silence and it was freaking him out. They couldn't wait any longer for reinforcements. He extended his arm to reach into the saddle bag. He rummaged around until he found a communicator. They were outside of radio range, but the distress beacons were detected by the W.A.C.K.Y watch no matter where they were. He activated the beacon and sat next to Pomni. For once, he was fine with the silence. He didn't know what to say anyway.

~

Caine was roused from sleep by a pinging noise from his watch. "Huh..?" His vision swam as he struggled to focus on the noise. "Wha-.. woah!" He rolled off the bed, nearly hitting his head on the nightstand on the way down. He groaned and searched his pocket. His watch continued to ping loudly and a distress marker was lit up in the City of Gears. He got to his feet and hastily grabbed his things. He was about to start blinking when Gangle and Ragatha came in.

"Caine! What are you doing out of bed??" Ragatha fussed.

"Pomni's activated her distress beacon. I need to go." He tried to blink outside but his heart lurched from the overexertion, causing him pain. He grunted, clutching his chest.

"Absolutely not! You're in no state to travel." Ragatha put her foot down, trying to guide Caine back to bed.

"Unhand me!" Caine pulled away, stumbling into the bed post. "Pomni's in trouble!"

"Then we'll send others!" Ragatha argued, scared for his well-being.

"No...no... You won't get there fast enough. None of you can...oh god." Fear gripped Caine soul. He barely felt strong enough to stand, let alone blink all the way to the City of Gears. He cursed himself for holding on to the void for too long. Now Pomni needed him and he couldn't get to her.

"I'll take you." Gangle said quietly when there was a silent pause between Caine and Ragatha.

The two looked at Gangle, surprised. Caine steadied himself. "Have you learned to blink?"

"No...but I am more comfortable with my soul magic and I....can fly."

"Since when??" Ragatha gaped.

"Not long. I figured out I could do it when one of Kinger's stick bugs wouldn't come down out of a tree. Next thing I knew I was floating." She giggled lightly. "Caine, If you need to get to the City of Gears, I will take you as fast as I can."

Caine put a grateful hand on Gangle's shoulder. "Thank you. We need to leave immediately. Grab anything you may need."

Gangle swept out of the room and Caine double checked his pockets for tools. Ragatha sighed. "It's going to be dangerous. You're so low on energy, you're stumbling around like you've been drinking all night. Let me go with Gangle. Let us handle whatever's got Pomni down."

"With all due respect, if Pomni has activated her distress beacon, you wouldn't be able to handle what made her do it. She and Jax, and possibly Shadowblade, could all be downed. They'll need an expert healer. I can rest on the flight there. By the end I should have enough energy to at least help them, even fight if I must. Try not to worry." Caine adjusted his coat on his shoulders, as ready to go as he could be.

"Impossible, I'm afraid. Everyone here has come to mean a lot to me. Including you. Please, don't push your soul too hard. It can only take so much. I'm sorry if I'm being overbearing, I just...."

"You're a wonderful friend, Ragatha. The world needs more people like you. I'll be careful." Caine reassured.

Ragatha nodded solemnly. "That's all I ask...oh, before I forget, I found some information on the crystal that I think you'll want to know." She took the fragments out of her pocket. "This is piezoelectric quartz. It's used as a power source for marionettes. It comes in a variety of colors, but they all generally come from the same place. The City of Power."

Caine remembered what the Master said about the existence of a D.I.E in Shadowblade. "Within...oh my god."

"What?" Ragatha asked.

"That's how he did it. The rat bastard fused a D.I.E with a large marionette's power source and then used a charm to maintain control. The process required to do such a thing.... I'm sick just thinking of it." He gripped his cane hard.

"Who...?" Ragatha stood confused.

"I spoke with the foul soul responsible for Shadowblade. Why do you think I'm so tired?"

Ragatha took the reformed control charm with S.B's initials out of her pocket. "Here. I don't know if it'll be of anymore use, but you should have it."

Caine took it as Gangle rushed back into the room, wearing a small cross body bag. "I'm ready!"

"Let's go then." Caine turned on his heel, marching to the door. "Hold down the fort, Ragatha."

Gangle and Caine went outside, where the sky was showing only the slightest bit of light from dawns approach. Gangle nervously held her arms out. "I, um...have to carry you."

Caine jumped into her arms without question, eager to get going. Gangle securely wrapped her ribbons around Caine legs and torso, carrying him as though he were her bride. She was the only one even slightly embarrassed.

Gangle focused on the gentle breeze lazily wafting by. A silvery glow emanated from her heart, traveling down the ribbons she stood upon. The wind rushed around with force, becoming gale force in an instant. Gangle's ribbons caught the air and gained lift. Caine watched with fascination as they rose from the ground. Gangle leaned forward and she started flying quickly, due east.

"Well I'll be dipped. You're soul magic uses the wind! That's incredible!"

"Heh, thank you." Gangle smiled with a tiny blush.

"Now we just need to find someone who can influence water, and we can make our own weather." Caine joked.

~

Birds chirping in hazey morning light gently stirred Shadowblade. They were in a comfortable human bed, wrapped in warm blankets. The smell of food in the air.

Shadowblade sat up, feeling very light and strange, their body not moving in a way they were used to. Removing the blankets, they saw a fair skinned human hand. They gasp. Two hands. Dainty and young.

Slowly, they get out of bed, standing on two legs. They look down, lifting their long nightshirt to see two human feet. Ten toes. Cold against the hardwood floor. They take a step forward. Then another. They balanced as though they had been walking on two legs their whole life.

Shadowblade looked around the room. It was small; only a bed, small vanity and wardrobe. The sunlight pouring in from the window gave everything a warm glow. They go the vanity. A crystal clear mirror reflects their chest as their head stood just out of its sight.

Shadowblade's hand shook as they reached for the top of the mirror. They tilted it...to see a young woman wearing a bonnet staring back. Shadowblade touches the human face, staring wide eyed at the reflection. The face was that of a young adult woman. Bright hazel eyes. Light freckles dotted pale skin. They grasp the bonnet, pulling it off to reveal long dark red hair that spilled over their shoulders. The hair curled lightly, a bit frizzed in the morning humidity.

Shadowblade touches the hair. The thick locks slide between their human fingers. It was the softest texture they'd ever experienced.

"You awake in there?" An unfamiliar woman's voice called from beyond the bedroom door.

Shadowblade jumped, staring at the door like a startled cat. "Coming, mother!" They said involuntarily. They gasp and clap their hands over their mouth. Their voice was soft, melodious even, like Gangle's.

Their eyes went back to the mirror and they looked different. They wore a simple brown dress and their hair was tied back. They felt compelled to leave the room, so they went out to find "mother".

The house was tiny, a bit ramshackled, but cozy. Floors boards creaked with each step. They only had to turn a corner to see a woman standing at a stove, her back to Shadowblade.

She was humming to herself, stirring a small pot of porridge. Shadowblade approached tentatively, jumping again when the woman looked back at them.

"Good morning, dear! You slept late. Have a seat, breakfast is nearly finished." Mother said with a smile.

Shadowblade sat stiffly as they were served a meager meal of porridge and a slice of bread. They kept their eyes on Mother, not trusting to take their gaze away from a stranger.

"Wh...where...am...I?" Shadowblade said slowly, not knowing their own voice.

Mother sat next to Shadowblade at the table with her own food and gave a warm smile. "You're home, silly. I certainly wouldn't mistake this place for anywhere else."

"I don't... understand...how..?"

"Where else would you go when you are hurting? You've been in a lot of pain for a long time. I'm glad you finally made it back. I've missed you."

~

Jax eyed the shrapnel in Pomni's left leg. "...you gonna get that?"

Pomni still wasn't responding. She stared emotionless at the floor, lost in a daze.

Jax gripped a piece of metal sticking out of Pomni's leg and yanked it out.

"AH! SON OF A FUCK THAT HURT! WHAT THE HELL!?" Pomni gripped her leg, glaring at Jax.

"There you are." Jax tossed the shrapnel. "What happened to you? You got all weird."

"Nothing." Pomni said stiffly.

"Bullshit."

"I'm not obligated to tell you anything."

"You are if it puts me at risk. I pass out for no reason and then you start acting like scared child?"

Pomni picked at the remaining pieces of shrapnel in her leg, carefully removing them. "You wouldn't understand even if I told you."

"Try me." Jax said firmly.

Pomni locked eyes with Jax in an intense stare for a long moment. "...fine. Are you familiar with an entity referred to as The Patriarch?"

"No."

"I may be the last combat Harlequin, but I am not the only Harlequin. This self proclaimed Patriarch has been following me ever since I defeated Kingr. I've seen him everywhere... I don't know how he gets around so fast."

Jax paused, thinking. "...maybe he isn't real."

Pomni went ridged, looking about as mad as she could be. She pulled the collar holding her bell away from her neck, exposing an ugly scar. "He did this to me, just by LOOKING at me. He's real. I don't know what he wants... Some times he hurts me. Sometimes he doesn't. Nothing and no one can stop him."

"Caine hasn't fixed that?" Jax pointed at Pomni's neck.

"I never take off the bell... He doesn't know about it."

"Damn...what did The Patriarch do this time?"

"He took part of the core of that thing." Pomni pointed at the deceased silver beast. "And he stole the journal. I don't know what he would want with it, but I can't imagine anything good. I'm just glad he didn't take Shadowblade." Pomni looked over her damaged companion.

Silence fell between them once again. The only sound being the soft rhythmic hum of Shadowblade's core. Pomni took off her mask, morning light giving her enough to see.

~

Gangle zoomed across the sky as fast as she could. Making much better time than expected. Caine took the time to meditate, rejuvenating some of his energy on the flight. His watch pinging louder as they grew close to the City of Gears broke his trance.

"We're here already?" Caine checked his watch.

"I found a jetstream!" Gangle proudly announced. "Where are they?"

"Down there. The warehouse with the big hole in the roof."

Gangle gracefully descended through the roof, bringing the wind with her and kicking up dust. Pomni and Jax were on their feet, expecting a fight. Caine almost blinked to Pomni, but saved his energy. Gangle released him, feeling his anxious squirming.

Caine ran up to Pomni, checking her for injuries. "We came as fast as we could! What happened!?"

Pomni embraced him. "I've never been so happy to see you."

Caine stood stunned, looking to Jax and Shadowblade's body, but gradually hugged her back. "I'm glad you're safe."

Jax avoided looking at the hugging duo. He was more interested in why Gangle was so far away from the manor. "Well, look who decided to leave the manor walls for once. Enjoying your field trip?"

"Indeed, Sir Jax. The air is so fresh up high." Gangle was transfixed a moment, then looked away shyly. " Master Caine needed to get here quickly. So I helped."

"Descending from on high like an angel? That's one way to get my attention." Jax chuckled.

Gangle squeaked. "I didn't- I'm not- oh my..." She hid her face, emotive patterns on her mask changing wildly.

Caine wished Pomni wouldn't let go, this was the most contact he's had with her that didn't involve fighting in a long time. His very soul sang in her presence.

"Shadowblade isn't doing good." Pomni said quietly. "And...he showed up."

Caine's blood ran cold. "The Patriarch?"

Pomni let go of Caine and pointed to the silver beast. "He took the core of that thing that attacked us. I thought he was going to take Shadowblade's too, but he didn't. He just...left. Even thanked me. Condescending bastard."

Caine could see the broken core and blood of the beast. "...the traitorous son."

"Huh?"

"Later. Shadowblade." Caine started evaluating Shadowblade's condition. The torso and an entire wing were torn apart. Heavy damage to the neck as well. They lost a lot of fluid, the core was dim and cracked. "Void preserve me, this is going to take awhile." He puts a hand on Shadowblade's face, drowning at seeing no signs of life.

"You can fix them...right?" Pomni asked with worry in her voice.

"Enough to get them back to the City of Circuits, but even that's going to be hours. You'll want to get comfortable."

Gangle and Jax came close to hear Caine's take on the damage. Gangle gasped, staring right at the core of Shadowblade.

"Oh my goodness...I can see them."

"Yeah, they're kind of hard to miss." Jax snarked.

"No, I mean I can SEE them. They're soul... This creature is a puppet!?"

"Hey, that creature has a name." Pomni glared.

"I-I'm sorry. I never thought-...Poor soul." Gangle stared, transfixed. The energy from the soul escaped through the cracks of the crystal containing it's D.I.E. She read what came through. "You saved them..." She looked at Jax.

"What?" Jax looked behind him, like Gangle could be talking to someone else.

"The last memory they have is you stopping the silver beast from killing them. You're a hero."

Jax blinked. "You know what? We haven't had a chance to secure the perimeter. I'm going for a walk." He turned on his heel and made for a side door outside.

"Jax?" Gangle called after.

"Let him go." Caine said, not looking up from Shadowblade.

"I think I insulted him. I didn't mean to." Gangle said.

Pomni huffed. "I'll have to remember that the next time I don't want him to bother me."

~

"Am...I...dead?" Shadowblade asked Mother.

"Not in a way that matters." She cryptically responded. "Won't you eat? You need your strength."

Shadowblade looked down at the bowl and considered eating but something blocked out the sun coming through the window. Shadowed mist poured in through every window and under the door and even the cracks. Shadowblade stood so fast, their chair fell over.

Mother didn't react, watching Shadowblade solemnly. "I wish we had more time..."

Shadowblade breathed heavily, they had no means of defense. They were small and weak and fragile as just a human. Ominous mechanical growling came from outside, from all sides of the tiny house. The mist filled the building, choking Shadowblade's throat and stinging their eyes. They fumbled blindly for a door but found nothing. The building they were in was gone. There was only darkness.

A golden light shined down on them. Two large eyes peered from the shadows. Shadowblade ran, but no matter how fast or far they thought they went, they couldn't get away from the eyes watching them. Ever nearer.

They ran until the eyes were on them. A beaked maw large enough to swallow them whole descended upon them. Then, they were the eyes. Feeling tall and powerful...and cold.

The mist dispersed to reveal an unknown battlefield. Human bodies by the hundreds were piled and rotting. Puppets torn to uncountable pieces littered the landscape. They knew this was their doing. They never failed a mission. Obey the Master. Seek and destroy.

Behind the stoic mechanical eyes was horror beyond comprehension. Shadowblade was realizing for the first time the true weight of what they'd done. All those people, humans and puppets alike, dead by their hand. The blood that stained their soul would never wash away.

~

Caine focused hard on putting all of his energy into healing Shadowblade, mending vital systems first. Pomni stood watch, keeping a com handy if Jax reported something. Gangle sat with her eyes locked on Shadowblade's core, taking in as much information as she could gather.

"Shadowblade is a she..." Gangle commented.

"Do you know her name?" Pomni asked.

"Not yet. Their a lot of memory to sift through and...most of it is as this form. She's been a puppet much longer than she was a human."

"Fucking hell..." Pomni grimaced.

"She fought in the war." Gangle added. "Against her will."

Caine tossed Gangle the charm. "You can thank this for that."

Gangle examined the ruinic stone. "SB... Shadowblade?"

"No, but an amazing coincidence." Caine answered. "Probably why they liked the name to begin with."

Pomni's com came to life with Jax's voice. "Hey, you bonzos wanna see something cool? Go outside, south side of the warehouse, and follow the ramp down."

"Really? You want to look for more trouble?" Caine guffawed. "We're lucky this place isn't swarming with marionettes."

"I'm sure that silver beast over there took care of anything troublesome a long time ago. I need to stretch my legs." Pomni left to go see what Jax wanted to show them.

Gangle stayed, putting a sympathetic hand on Shadowblade. "What will we do when she wakes up?"

"I don't know..." Caine answered honestly. "Figure out how to communicate, that's for sure, but otherwise, I'm not sure what we could do for her."

"Maybe a new body? Like the rest of us?"

"If that's what she wants, but I'll have to figure out how to safely extract the D.I.E from the crystal. This is all unique technology and I don't want to risk severing her soul from the mortal plane."

Gangle frowned, seeing more of Shadowblade's memories and state of mind. "What if she wanted you to do that?"

Caine paused. "Then I would understand." He left it at that.

~

Pomni met Jax on a subsection of the warehouse. They were in what looked like a massive subway tunnel system, but there were no rails. A tunnel to their left was collapsed, a train buried in the debris. To their right, an open tunnel with an odd looking train intact and waiting for passengers that would never come.

"We need to work on your definition of cool, Jax." Pomni looked around, bored.

"You don't know what these are, do you?" Jax forced open a hatch near the front of the complete train.

Pomni saw writing on the side of the nose of the train. "Mobile Operative Transport, Sector I."

"Exactly! It's a MOTSI! One in good condition, too. These living trains took people back and forth across and to other cities super fast. I rode more than a few in my time. Always fun."

"Living..?"

Jax activated a power stitch in the front car and the train came to life with a loud hum. As it shifted, the front of the train shook debris off its head raising it slightly from the ground. Bright yellow lights shined in Pomni's face.

"Ha! It still works!" Jax cheered. "We just got our ticket out of here."

The MOTSI train was more snake-like now that it was active. A faded white and red paint job was down the entire length of it's body. The hatch Jax had opened shut him inside and the train went off through to the only available opening in front of it.

Pomni stepped aside, avoiding being accidentally crushed against the wall. The movement of the giant train made the earth beneath it rumble. It forces it's way out of the smaller entrance, under Jax's direction, and breaks free of the underground railroad.

All the noise got Caine and Gangle to rush outside, prepared to fight, only to see a massive metal snake coil itself around a building. Jax popped out of the top front section, behind the head, and jumped down. "I got us a ride home. You're welcome." He smirked.

The snake stayed put, watching Jax.

Pomni joined the others. "This is getting ridiculous. Why can't we find any small pets."

"I was about to ask the same thing." Caine stared up at the snake train.

~

Shadowblade tore at their body. Their claws ripped away armor and spikes and cut into vitals. They tried to speak, only roars and rumbles of anger and agony came out. All they could hear were their own thoughts.

I am not a monster.

I am NOT a monster!

I AM NOT YOUR PUPPET!

I AM ME!!

They dug their claws into their chest. The crystal cracked under their grip. The pain was immense.

YOU DO NOT CONTROL ME ANY MORE!!

Shadowblade roared as mist poured from them. It formed a shadowy silhouette of their form, glaring back with the same golden eyes.

YOU ARE NOT ME!!

Shadowblade crushed their own core. Golden shards fell like stars from their chest. A white light beamed from the center of the crystal, piercing the shadow. It scattered in the harsh light.

I am...me.

Shadowblade's mind felt clearer. More memories came, but they didn't hurt. They flowed freely like a river that had been dammed for too long, washing away the barrier that held them back from feeling human.

~

Caine went back to Shadowblade alone, the others entertained by their new pet. He was about to continue repairs when a sharp sound from the core for his attention. He watched in amazement as thin black tendrils sprouted from the center of the crystal, forcing their way out through the cracks.

The new flesh wove itself into Shadowblade's inner workings, spreading across the entire body like vines. Shadowblade's eyes slowly brightened as she came to consciousness.

Caine smiled softly, putting a hand on Shadowblade's head. "Welcome back."

Shadowblade rumbled, happy to see a familiar face.

~~~

To be continued...

[peacekeeperangel]

Tower of Deceit- A soundtrack

Hi Guys! Since the Spire of Shadows came out, I like many others have had loads of ideas, so like how I did for Mermaid's Tale I'm going to Slap together some songs I thought fit- Use them for AMVs or to get yourself in the right headspace for fanfictions! I'm going to set this here some songs may contain Trigger Warnings- Please be careful when investigating/listening.

"The Riddle" - The Scarlet Pimpernel Sountrack Considered for: Everybody.

This has been on my radar for years but it REALLY suits this update due to the Waltz-like tune and the whole theme of the song being Deception! If you need something mysterious to listen to this is it!

"Achilles Come Down" - Gang Of Youths (TW: Self-ending) Considered for: White Lily, Pure Vanilla, Shadow Milk It dawned on me this song sounds like Lily and Milk arguing for Vanilla- Potential Shipping war we're walking...- Either way if you want a good song for the Angel/Devil dynamic I'd turn this one on. "Hurt Incantation"- Rapunzel Animated Series Considered for- Truthless Recluse Oh come on I'm surprised no one else narrowed in on this one. The one I picked was a cover by Annapantsu but go with whatever version jams your jelly the best, it all works. got the right mood for the character in question "Villian" - Stella Jang Considered for: ???? Okay I'm not sure about this one but people have been using this for PV/SM for Agggges so might as well include it. "Writing on the Wall" - Will Stetson Considered for: Shadow Milk Cookie Yes I'm aware this is a Genshin Impact cover song LET ME EXPLAIN! See I heard this for the first time when Shadow Milk Cookie first revealed himself in the Silver Kingdom, and I've weirdly associated the song with him ever since then. Maybe it's the Lyrics maybe it's the melody but I've come to associate the Fall of Shadow Milk with this song. Weird I know, but if you can work with it go to town! "Rainbow Connection"- Kermit the Frog Considered for: Pure Vanilla Cookie I started noticing there was no song for Pure Vanilla Cookie which was unfortunate. But if there's any song here for PV it's gotta be this one. I went with a cover by "Sleeping at Last" but again since this is a classic there's a million covers out there so go with what suits you best. "They're Only Human"- Death Note Musical, covered by Annapantsu and Caleb Hyles Considered for: Dark Enchantress Cookie/Shadow Milk Cookie a Song perfect for spying on Pure Vanilla and White Lily being evil and waltzy-sounding. something fun. Again pick your alternatives but I like the cover Anna and Caleb did so I'm sticking to that one. "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing- REBORN" - Set it off Consider for: Pure Vanilla/Truthless Recluse Okay this is mostly a joke, half because it came out just in time for the update and having PV rock out hard with some heavy metal especially with going "Emo" as the Truthless Recluse makes it wild. Who's point of view this takes after I leave to the listener's interpretation but work with what you have eh? "I Know Those Eyes/This Man Is Dead"- The Count of Monte Christo Considered for: White Lily/Truthelss Recluse

Now I'm Mad at myself because I am quite fond of the Purelily ship and this song SCREAMS for it. I really should have put this in at the first shot but Eh, better late than never "The World Revolving"- Toby Fox covered by Osiris Music Considered For: Shadow Milk Cookie

I'm pretty sure this the new Universal themesong for crazy clowns in nerdcore but it still works for Shadow Milk Cookie at his zaniest. and Osiris Music is really very good and needs more credit. "Candle Queen"- GHOST Considered for: Candy Apple Cookie

Yeah this was the only song I could think of that suited Shadow Milk's Harley Quinn-esque sidekick. Plus I dunno why but her design makes me think Electroswing. Okay! that's it for now! I may come back later to add more, I may not, let's just see. I hope my little soundtrack collection helps inspire all your future fanworks! :D

[verperina]

On The Throne

Pairing: Dorian Havilliard x f!reader 

Summary: Dorian fulfills your fantasy of being fucked on his throne.

Warnings: 18+ smut

Word Count: 2,943

Author’s Note: I’m not 100% satisfied with this, but I’m still proud of myself for finishing it. I stayed up until 4:00 in the morning to finish writing and editing, and then put it in my drafts. And please ignore how boring/dumb the title is. I couldn’t come up with anything else.

“Everyone out.” Dorian’s voice rang throughout the room, echoing off the marble floors. The guards quickly left, including Chaol who sent a glance toward his friend and then to you before shutting the doors behind him. The room was completely empty now. It was just you and Dorian, who still had his eyes on you.  

Chaol had fetched you from the library, informing you that Dorian had requested your presence in the throne room, but did not say why. When you asked if something had happened, Chaol had quickly reassured you that the king was fine and had simply wanted to see you. 

The way Dorian was currently looking at you—a predatory look in his eyes—made your heart skip a beat, and you took a moment to study his clothing. He always dressed immaculately, but today he showed to be the perfect portrait of royalty. His black hair neatly combed with a gold crown placed perfectly upon his head, a fitted black jacket embellished with red and gold, a silk tunic, black trousers and black knee-high boots. The wedding ring adorning his finger—a silver band with a sapphire jewel that matched your own—gleamed in the sunlight.

Your body started to feel warm, your dress too constricting.

The corner of his lip tugged upwards and he reached out a hand, gesturing for you to step up the dais. “Come here.”

You remained still. His eyebrows faintly rose at your defiance and you could see a sliver of amusement in his eyes.

“Ask nicely,” you said, a small grin starting to form on your lips, “and then maybe I will, husband.”

He chuckled, the noise coming out breathy. “Please, come here my dear wife.”

After a moment of mock contemplation, you obliged, slowly walking up the steps so you wouldn’t trip over the fabric of your dress. 

Once you were within his reach, you grabbed his hand and laced your fingers together, looking at his wedding ring before speaking. “When Chaol came to get me I was worried at first—I thought maybe something had happened.” Dorian’s gaze softened. “He was quick to reassure me that you were more than fine, although he didn’t share why you wanted to see me.”

Dorian started to smile. “I didn’t tell Chaol why I wanted to see you.”

“And why is that?” you asked, head tilting to the side.

“Because I didn’t want him to know that I would very much like to fuck you on my throne.” You choked out a laugh and felt your face begin to warm. His smile widened at the sound, sapphire eyes bright. A few weeks ago, laying in your shared bed after hours of passionate love making, you had confessed to Dorian about your fantasy of having sex on his throne—with no one else in the room, of course—and he had only laughed and playfully teased you before fucking you once more. You thought he had forgotten all about it. Apparently not. He added, “But I’m sure he will figure it all out rather soon.” And then a sly grin came across his face. “If he doesn’t, then I’m sure the noises will be confirmation.”

“Your mother would be horrified if she found out,” you mused. It was no secret that Georgina Havilliard wasn’t overly fond of you. When envisioning a future wife for her eldest son she favored the idea of a princess or at least a woman of high nobility, not a commoner like you. But Dorian didn’t care about her opinion and had no problem voicing it. He loved you and that’s all that mattered.

Your husband only shrugged before lightly tugging your hand. You saw the mischievous gleam in his eyes and knew that he wanted to indulge you in your fantasy. You lowered yourself onto his lap, straddling his hips and his large hands immediately gripped your thighs. Bringing your hands to cup his jaw, your thumb lightly traced the sharpness of his cheekbone, and then brushed it against his bottom lip.

You let yourself take time in admiring his features. His beauty. Just Dorian himself. Your Dorian.

Removing your hands from his face, you lowered them to his shoulders, and then to the firm muscle of his abdomen through his clothing. His stomach tightened at your touch and with one last glance at his face, your lips found his in a soft kiss, one so at odds with the burning desire that snapped through the air. Your entire body was tingling from excitement and the feeling of his warmth seeping into you.

Dorian’s tongue meets yours tentatively, waiting for you to lead the kiss, letting you decide how you wanted it. You let yourself take control. You alternate between gently nipping his lips and stroking your tongue against his while running your fingers through his thick hair. 

Your heart was racing and your face warm. Dorian pulled away to rest his forehead against yours. His lips were swollen from your kisses and his tanned face was a light shade of pink. “Tell me what you want,” he breathed, sapphire eyes glazed over with lust.

You swallowed, trying to catch your breath. “You.”

“Want me to make you feel good?” he murmured.

“Yes.” You nodded eagerly, and not bothering to wait for him to take control, your hands grip the collar of his tunic as you drag Dorian in for a kiss that’s desperate and a little sloppy. His tongue in your mouth once again, and his hands move to cup your ass, kneading the flesh. A pleased sigh leaves you.

He deepens the kiss. It’s demanding and ravenous. You let yourself melt into him, let yourself just be here in the now with him. Unashamed and happy. You teasingly roll your hips against his hardness, causing a wave of pleasure to shoot through you, and a low, rough groan escapes him. You repeat the motion again, feeling arousal pool between your thighs.

His lips began to plant kisses along your jawline, and then leaves a trail of kisses down the column of your throat. Sucking the skin before harshly biting, a gasp leaves you at the slight stinging sensation. “I want to see my marks on you.” And you wanted to see his marks on you too. You wanted everyone to know that no one could touch you like Dorian could. That no one would ever be able to please you like Dorian did.

His hands started to untie the front laces of your dress, your bare breasts now exposed, and your nipples hardening from both your arousal, and the cool air. His lips leave love bites on your neck and collarbones, and then your breasts. You looked at him to see that his eyes were already on you, pure hunger shining in them.

And when Dorian brought your nipple to his warm mouth, you couldn’t stop the strangled moan that left you. Your back arched as your hands came to rest on his broad shoulders. He continued his torturous teasing; the rough sucking, the gentle biting. Your head tipped back as his fingers tugged at your other nipple. “Dorian,” you mumbled. Your cunt was wet, the lace fabric starting to become uncomfortable.

He wasn’t using his phantom hands. He wanted you all to himself. 

He lips wrapped around your other nipple, continuing the same ministrations but even more harsher this time. Your thighs tightened around him. He shuddered when your body moved against his, a debauched sound escaping his throat—a sound you wanted to hear more of. 

You continued to slowly grind yourself on him, desperate for some kind of relief. A pathetic whimper was voiced when your sensitive clit rubbed against the fabric of his pants. 

“I need more.” The words came out as a plea. It wasn’t enough. Your body craved more. 

Dorian released his mouth from you, looking into your eyes and said, “Tell me what you need and I will give it to you.”

“You inside of me.”

Your fingers trembled as you quickly undid the button to his pants and then his zipper. He pushed the skirts of your dress further up until your panties were completely visible, and without hesitation he pushed the material to the side and slid a finger through your folds, a breath leaving him at the feeling of your wet cunt.

You brought Dorian in for another kiss, one that left you breathless, and then pulled back to look at him. His hair was messy from your fingers running through it, pretty flushed cheeks, and swollen lips. He still had the pale band around his neck from where the collar had been, but it did nothing to diminish his beauty.

“You’re beautiful,” you breathed. 

Dorian laughed, his eyes glimmering with mirth, and your heart skipped a beat at how joyous it sounded. “I prefer devastatingly handsome.” He paused to kiss you once more. “But thank you.”

You smiled and opened your mouth to respond, but a moan came out when he slid a finger inside of you, purposefully slow. You looked down to see his finger sliding in and out, gathering more of your slick. “You like seeing me touch you?”

You nodded, slightly rocking your hips and bringing your hand down to rub your clit at a steady pace. A silent hiss left your lips at the contact, and pressure started to form low in your belly, a bundle of nerves starting to become more intense. His other hand kneaded your breast, adding more stimulation, making your orgasm grow nearer, even more so as a second finger entered you.

Your cunt started clenching rhythmically, eager to find that release you desperately wanted. You started rubbing your clit faster, feeling a sheen layer of sweat on your body and hairline despite the room being a little cold. You could only imagine how messy your appearance was right now, but you couldn’t bring yourself to particularly care.

Breathy gasps left you as you climaxed, your body shuddering from the intensity as Dorian helped you ride through your high. The feeling leaves you in ecstasy, slightly buzzed. Only when you stopped pleasuring yourself did he gently remove his fingers. 

He brought them to his mouth, sapphire eyes glazed over with burning desire, and tasted your arousal. A pleased sound left him. He tucks a stray piece of hair behind your ear as he pulls you in for a fiery kiss, your tongues stroking against one another. 

You push down his undershorts, his cock springing free, hard and the tip leaking with arousal. You swallowed. You wanted Dorian to fuck your throat until tears streamed down your face, but that would happen next time when you two had more time, it could wait. Instead, you grabbed his cock and stroked him, and Dorian tipped his head back.

Your thumb collected the moisture at his tip, rubbing it along his slit and he groaned. You could tell that he was restraining himself from bucking his hips. After giving a soft squeeze, you very slowly start stroking him. His brows slightly furrow and his hands tighten their hold on your backside. You give a harsh tug, and then another before picking up your pace a little more.

The restraint that Dorian was holding onto broke free as he removed your hand from his length and tightened a fist over it, giving a few leisure strokes of his own, and then angles himself up with the entrance of your cunt. And when you finally lowered yourself onto his cock, you couldn’t stop the shudder that ran throughout your entire body. The feeling of him being inside you felt so warm and full.

You both paused for a moment to just breathe each other in, and then you began a slow pace, placing a hand around his throat and the other on his chest to balance yourself. The stretch of his cock is a delicious torture; you could never grow tired of this. A shaky breath escapes your lips as you ride him. His hands come to rest on your hips to help steady you.

You could feel a thin layer of perspiration cling uncomfortably to your back, but you ignored it as you lightly squeezed Dorian’s throat and closed your eyes, feeling nothing but pure bliss. 

Very slowly you start to move a little faster, his heavy breathing encouraging you. Each time your hips moved upward you squeeze around his cock, making his eyebrows lightly crease from pleasure and his hands tighten their hold on you. You bring your mouth to his, and heavy, forceful kisses leave your lungs burning for air. Your hands and his own are all over each other, frantic, as if you two can’t get enough of one another. 

“How did I get so lucky?” he asked. “How did I get so lucky as to have you?”

Before you could open your mouth to respond, Dorian’s hand came down to harshly smack your ass and you gasp in surprise. He does it again, but harder this time and it causes you to clench around his cock, and in response he lets out a quiet groan. He lets his nails lightly scratch the side of your ass before slapping you again. You wouldn’t be surprised to find handprints later on.

He stopped your movements by firmly grabbing your hips, and before you could question what he was doing, he slammed you down onto his length—hard. You both let out choked moans and your eyes nearly rolled to the back of your head. He repeated the same motion thrice more before snapping his hips upward. The sound of skin-on-skin echoing throughout the room.

“You can take it,” Dorian panted. 

His hands are still holding your hips in place to keep you in his control. Your back arches in pleasure, a small whimper leaving your lips, and a deep pressure starts building in your belly, tingles rippling through your entire body. You plead for your husband to go faster, desperately wanting to find release. Your mouth hangs open as your forehead falls against his, and a bead of sweat trails down your temple from your hairline. You ignore the uncomfortable feeling of sweat clinging to your body.

Your hands cup your breasts, kneading the flesh before rolling your nipples in between your thumbs and forefingers to add more stimulation. You groan at the sensation. Dorian watches keenly, his throat bobbing. 

Your cunt is throbbing painfully and your walls are pulsing as your body tightens around him. He releases his hold on you so you can move against him, and you bring your hands to rest on his shoulders to ride him faster.

“Take what you want,” he encourages. “Ride my cock like a good girl.”

You whine at the praise, clenching around his cock. He moans at the feeling of your tight, wet walls around him. The sound sent a rush of pleasure to your core. He kisses you harshly before speaking again. “You’re doing so good for me. Always so good for me.”

The knot in your stomach twists. “I’m going to come,” you gasp out. Your movements become chaotic and uncontrolled. You start rhythmically pulsing around his cock and he snaps his hips in a frenzy to help bring your climax closer. 

“That’s it,” he rasped. “Come for me.”

With a loud moan, your orgasm rolls through you in an intense convulsion, your vision blurring. Your toes curl so hard in your slippers they begin to cramp as pure ecstasy floods your body. Your limbs tremble and spasm as you hold onto Dorian tightly, burning your face into the crook of his neck. 

He curses, nipping the lobe of your ear as his warm hands grip your thighs. His hips buck frantically, chasing his own release, and when you clench around him again he groans loudly, spilling into you. His breathing is ragged against your neck as his thrusts slow down before coming to a stop. 

The two of you trembled in each other’s arms as you came down from the high. You sigh, closing your eyes, letting yourself rest your head on his chest and listen to the erratic beating of his heart. Dorian lazily ran his hand up and down your back. His touch is soothing and gentle, like always.

The air in the room was stifling, too hot, despite it being chilly when you had first arrived. You swallow, trying to catch your breath and calm your racing heart. You could feel your dress stick uncomfortably to your skin from sweating, and stray pieces of your hair were stuck to your forehead. You were too dazed from your orgasm to care about your appearance.

“Do you think Chaol knows?” you ask softly. Both of you had been in here for more than ten minutes and neither of you had exactly been quiet, and Chaol wasn’t dumb; he saw the way you and Dorian were looking at each other before leaving the room.

“Given how loud you and I were, then yes, I would assume so,” Dorian says. “But if he isn’t aware, then I have no problem fucking you again.”

You laugh loudly at that and he joins you, the sound making your heart skip a beat. You had no problem with being fucked on his throne again, if anything it made you want to do it again. 

“I would like that,” you respond, stifling a yawn.

“I thought as much.” You couldn’t see his face, but you knew that Dorian was smiling, and you felt a smile bloom on your lips too, feeling happy and content with being in the arms of your husband.

[hlizr50]

Anyone have any ideas for Nesryn/Sartaq drabbles/oneshots??

Sartaq has been on my mind recently! I miss them!!

[pvrkacciosan]

The Heart of the Lioness: ☽⋆32⋆☾

Song to Remember By

The Heart of the Lioness Masterlist

Previous Part

Cairn arched forwards falling to land with a grunt. His knees cracking against the concrete, Brielle pushed harder willing that dreg of fighting power into every rotting crevice of his soul. The power, an extension of her anger and rage, ripped into every nerve burning them and carving into his layers of skin. 

There was a rattle of chains as Aelin crawled, metal gauntlets scraping the stone as she moved to where the Lioness stood. A female battering-ram of power that fuelled the rising warmth in the cell. The young Queen of Terrasen tucked herself into the back of Brielle's legs when another bone splintering scream tore from the male writhing on the floor in pain before them.

Vera had began yelling over Cairn's noises of pain as she yanked forcefully at her restraints, biting into her lip to ignore the pain as the metal cut into her wrist. If Brielle was giving them this opportunity she wasn't going to waste it. If she could get to them and get Aelin standing Vera knew Enola would be able to help them. The Pride members would never stray too far from their leader. She turned and gripped to the chain wrapping both arms and planting her feet to the wall trying to rip it out the stone.

The Lioness was unrelenting in her form standing vigil, braced as Aelin hid behind her. Allowing the younger female to catch her breath, trying to recover from the touch of darkness that was Brielle's power.

There was blood blisters exploding off Cairn's skin. Hives of them erupting as Brielle pushed further ignoring the rising heat in her core temperature. Snarling to expose her canines at Cairn when he tried to fight and rise up against her. He had not a single defence as she started imploding blood vessels under his skin. The surface of his flesh was darkening in various hues of purple as the blood began seeping internally around his system.

A low whine building in the air drew her attention, even through the blurring of her vision she could still see Fenrys glued to his space by the entrance. Brielle felt her power flicker when she glanced at him. Fenrys wasn't moving instead staring straight at her. She had anticipated seeing the disgust and fear in his eyes as it shone in everyone else when they witnessed the lengths of her power. But not him, never him.

Her whole body warmed from the inside out, an underlay of heat lining her skin. Blood boiling a sheen of sweat over her arms. The power had begun to wilt when she dragged and demanded more, Even in his wolf form Brielle could read his expressions as clearly as day. His eyes spiked with worry as she turned away from him to meet Cairn's blood shot eyes. She was reaching her limit and the bastard knew it, biding his time for the lingering iron shavings in her system to do their job.

If this was to be it, She was going to give it everything. A flood gate of power bursting she fired the remainder of it at the male, his body contorting to try and relieve the pressure and pain.

Beads of sweat were running down her face , warming her jaw. Eyes sting as the droplets flowed freely. It was becoming difficult to keep her knees straight, muscles tightening and cramping under the effort of keeping herself upright.

"Brielle!" Vera's cry was croaked as she continued fighting the chains imprisoning her to the wall, near bone breaking point, simply in order to reach her Commander, her friend. The lines of the room were all blurring to the same shapes. Brielle felt the muscles tighten and legs buckle but she refused to fall, Even through his pain Cairn began smiling watching her shake with effort, awaiting the final blow of power that would never come.

There was a resounding boom as a body collided into the door, she swayed, vision darkening at the edges as light finally flooded into the room from the entrance, Isaiah stood in the doorway, panting from the effort of pounding the door open, a door which was dented in the shape of a shoulder. He gaped taking in the sight of Brielle, a physical faltering shield to the Queen huddles like a child behind her. Brielle was faintly aware of Cairn's rasp breathless laughter before she finally blacked out.

☽⋆❈⋆☾

Everything was aching beyond recognition. Her bones, nerves, fingers, everything. Every inch of her skin had been stretched too thin to cover her bones. A near blinding pain began to bloom behind her eye, even lifting her eyelids was an effort, little dead weights fighting to keep them close, to keep her blind.

Brielle needed to wake up, Needed to fight.

A hand brushed against her arm, soft and gentle. She knew it was Connall beside her. A realisation that hurts more than it should have. He was her friend, the thing her life gripped to, the raft which allowed her to keep her head above the water.

If it was him beside her and not his twin... Her burn out had been for nothing. A fucking monumental waste of power. Even now, she could feel the sting of the iron in her system, like a parasite leeching her power from deep within her bones. A fatigue that lingered still.

"Bri," His voice was hushed, but it rattled her skull, echoed off the walls surrounding them. Blinking she tried to focus on his form before her, Connall knelt, hand fused to her own, His words brought her jolting back into reality. 

Back to feeling everything once more, force you to pay attention. The surface beneath her was solid and cold. Stone. Brielle didn't need her senses with her now to know exactly where she lay.

"Connall..."She squinted at him in confusion, her vision finally focusing enough to see the tears that lace his eyes. "What-"

"I'm sorry. Okay, I need you to remember something for me." His voice was still a whisper as he leaned closer wrapping an arm around her torso. Brielle struggles to sit upright but forces her senses to clear as he slips something cold and small into her hand. Using his hand to clamp her fingers around it.

There were footsteps drawing closer, She heard the shift in his heartbeat, giving way to the obvious scent of panic "Brielle... Don't be moral" He was nodding softly ",Be realistic." He was pulled back from her, catching her stare when he was yanked to stand above her.

Confusion was hammering harder inside her head, pulsing with the pain, a second guard stormed in to roughly grab her above the elbow. Fae and almost ten times her size Brielle couldn't offer up more of a fight beyond the low hiss that left her from the ache in her muscles when he dragged her into the throne room.

Connall had shifted, The Midnight black wolf stalking to sit beside the throne upon which Maeve was already perched, smirking down at Brielle.

"The Lioness..." The queen drawled, pale thin hand coming to stroke down the spine of the owl beside her, Brielle's eyes shifted to meet Enola's gaze, the pale owl blinked at her. I'm okay. Brielle read the statement loud and clear as Maeve stayed oblivious to the Pride member under her own palm.

"After your demonstration earlier. I saw it only fit to give you one of my own." 

The guard dumped Brielle, her hand falling out to catch her body before she smacked the stone. Maeve let a satisfied sigh go, leaning back to watch the double doors behind Brielle swing wide. Her heart was hammering faster as she finally turned, 

The scents that filled the room, mixing with the blood and panic Brielle tried to rise on weak legs when Fenrys stalked into the room, he glanced at her but couldn't stop walking towards the throne.

A second later, Brielle froze, Cairn walks in dragging a hooded figure, it was a struggle to not look away as Aelin was forced to crawl and stumble before Cairn finally stopped.

He glares sidelong at Brielle, his bloodshot eyes and bruised skin made her smirk, the only bit of hope she had. A hope the bastard was still in pain. 

The guard who had dragged Brielle into the area, walked the edges of the room, until he was beside Fenrys, lowering a sword to rest it beside his neck. The blood running through Brielle's veins chilled, panic thundering up into her throat.

"Remove the hood, Cairn" He does so, glowering at Brielle one final time before roughly grasping the top of the hood and ripping it upwards, Aelin swayed from where he held her.

Brielle's lip pulled back, exposing the top row of her teeth and canines. Cairn stilled for a moment before ignoring her once more. 

The Lioness watches, struggling to draw breath past the panic formed lump in her airway. Eyes zeroing in on the circle of glass at the foot of Maeve's dais. A display, A demonstration. A punishment for them all.

Fuck.

 Brielle planted a hand beneath her, the cold from the stone invading the skin of her palm.

"If you will, Cairn" Maeve gave a relaxed gesture to the ring of shards on the floor, Shining like stars as the light poured in and bounced off the surface of the glass. Brielle fought through the burn of her muscles to rise when a blade dropped to rest against her neck. 

It was a hateful instinct to relax in his presence, her own body and mind betraying her to deep rooted trust when Isaiah pushed his dagger into the column of her throat. The year before she was sworn... the world had not been kind to the three of them. Isaiah and- Brielle never mentioned her name these days, or any day since the Golden Death. The trio... had crumbled then and now lay broken. 

Isaiah used his free hand to grasp her chin, positioning her head so she was looking across at her own mate, "You move, He dies remember." He gently removes his grip on her face, allowing her head to drop between her shoulders. It was an effort not to cry, had it all been for nothing?

Brielle's attention was snapped back up to Cairn as he shoved Aelin to kneel atop the pile of glass. An ancient crown now resting on her head. Despite the steady breaths Aelin took to keep herself from screaming Brielle couldn't help but notice how... Right  the crown looked there, Destined to lay upon Aelin's head of golden hair.

The metallic tang of blood bleeds into the air of the throne room, The shards under Aelin seeping red from the blood she bled onto them. Even from across the room, Brielle could hear the young Queen swallow down her screams, breathing steady as Cairn pushed her down by the shoulder, forcing his weight through her knees on the glass. But still Aelin refused to give them the satisfaction of screaming.

Brielle searched deep, bypassing the iron in her system to drag up a small dreg of her power, extending it to Aelin, The young Queen subtly met her stare when Brielle's magic brushed her legs, blocking the nerve receptors. Numbing her limbs slightly. Brielle watched a tear slide as Aelin let loose a small sigh of relief.

"A pity that there is not a bigger audience to witness this," Maeve smugly looked around the room at the gathering of beings bending into submission before her. "Aelin Fire-bringer, wearing her proper Faerie Queen's crown at last. Kneeling at my feet."

Brielle had to forcefully bite into her own lip to keep herself still, watching as Aelin's shoulders shook, swaying and wincing from the pain the movement caused.

There was a resounding click as Maeve snapped her fingers, grabbing all the attention to her, "Fenrys."

Brielle fought the expression from her face, to hide her emotions as she watched her mate walk towards the queen. Stopping to sit at her feet, Fenrys tilted his head at his brother, Maeve smiled at the sight.

"Connall, you may finally tell your twin what you wish to say" Isaiah twists so Brielle has a full view between the twins interaction. Connall glances to Brielle once, a long second before he shifts back to his fae form, standing tall above Fenrys now. 

"Speak freely, Connall." Maeve eases back into her seat on the throne. Brielle caught Enola's stare when the owl ruffled her wings. The look in her spies eyes... She was trying to warn her of something.

"Let your brother know these words are our own and not of my command" Brielle watched with a careful eye, a spies eyes. Tracking every minuscule movement and whisper of the unspoken word. Unease sat itself down in the deepest pit of her stomach, watching as Fenrys was momentarily distracted by looking across to Aelin when Cairn forced her to lean further onto the broken glass.

"You brought this upon yourself," Fenrys shifts his attention back to his twin, the pit in Brielle's stomach plummets. What was Connall saying? Did he know what Maeve was planning before they were dragged in here.

"Your arrogance, Your unchecked recklessness– Was this what you wanted?" Some part of her wishes Connall might just look at her so she could know for herself. That these were not Maeve's own words. Hoping beyond all hope Connall was being forced to say such a thing. Each word is a whipping of its own brutal nature. But without looking across to her, Connall continued.

"You couldn't let me have this– have any part of this for myself. You took the blood oath not to serve our Queen, but so you couldn't be bested by me for once in your life." He stops, Fenrys' heart with it, Connall takes a second for a laugh that was more of a breathless pant of air as he looked skyward to the stone ceiling rising high above them.

"You were even mated to the one female I ever truly  loved. And still you couldn't give me this." The revelation reverberated through her. Through the room that even Maeve sat forward in interest.

Brielle stopped breathing when Connall finally glanced at her, Conviction and undying truth shone there, I'm sorry, He mouthed to her. She was going to throw up. All this time...

Fenrys had tilted his head, had felt the shift in her presence, Following his twin's stare. The white wolf growled low in the back of his throat, it drew Connall's attention away from his mate.

Simply by watching the wolf, Brielle knew he was readying himself for the verbal lashing sure to ensue from his brother, readying to weather it in order to keep his brother's attention on him and off of her.

"You are a disgrace to our family, to this kingdom. You whored yourself to a foreign Queen, and for what? I begged you to control yourself when you were sent to hunt Lorcan. I begged you to be smart. You might as well spat in my face." 

The words rippled and grated Brielle's skin, watching Fenrys' flinch at Connall's words. She was going to speak with Connall once this was over. No one spoke to Fenrys like that, not in a situation like this, not even his own twin brother.

Maeve was watching on in amusement when Fenrys made a low sound, resembling a snarl, the unspoken language between the brothers. Connall snorts, jerking his head back in offence, "Leave? Why would I ever want to leave" For the briefest of seconds, Connall let his gaze slip back to Brielle held in place by Isaiah. 

"And for what? That? " Connall points to where Aelin is still knelt on the glass. "No Fenrys I will not leave. And neither will you." A low whine was the only response Fenrys could muster.

"That will be all, Connall" Despite their friendship and the blood oath still restricting him, Brielle felt sick at the rush of resentment that flooded her when Connall obeyed with ease. Shifting to sit beside his Queen once more. Following the blood oath had never been easy for her, he made it look so simple it was sickening. Maeve repositions herself on the throne.

"You know how quickly this can end, Aelin." Brielle glanced at the young Queen. She was breathing slowly, chest rising and falling on rhythm, with her eyes closed over.

"Tell me where you hid the Wyrdkeys, swear the blood oath..." Brielle wanted to sob at the memory of when she bound herself to Maeve, she was a shell, a mirror to Aelin now. "The order doesn't matter, I suppose" At those words Aelin finally opened her eyes, swaying she lifts her bound hands, throwing the most vulgar gesture she could at Maeve. The Queen's smile tightened barely enough to be noticeable.

"Cairn." At the command he puts even more force into pushing her down on top of the glass. Aelin finally caved. Her scream ripped through the skies and rattled the bones of Brielle's  skull. Trying to rise Brielle was forced back down by Isaiah, Fenrys growls from the side.

"Very well, Cairn" Cairn relieved the pressure on Aelin and Brielle fought the instinct to crawl towards the queen to aid her friend. Aelin was panting trying to even out her breathing as she bowed over her knees planting her head to the floor.

"My eyes told me an interesting tidbit of information this morning " A sour taste bled through Brielle's mouth. Those resources might have come from her people.

"An account that you were currently in Terrasen and readying the little army you gathered for war you and Prince Rowan and my two disgraced warriors along with your usual group" Aelin didn't respond refusal to believe her words. They were coming she knew it but the vacant expression on Aelin's face... she was slowly losing faith.

"Useful, to have a shapeshifter to play your part as queen, Though I wonder how long the ruse can last without your special gifts to incinerate Morath's legions. How long until the allies you collected start asking why the fire-bringer does not burn." Maeve was relaxed, ignoring all else as she conversed with Aelin.

"I do not wish to wipe away this world, as Erawan does, I like Erilea precisely the way it is. I always have." – "I have seen many wars. Sent my warriors to fight in them, end them" 

Brielle ignores Cairn's stare as he glances sidelong to watch her, his skin is still battered black and blue from the reminents of her power, despite his attempt to stifle it. 

"I have seen how destructive they are. The very glass you lay on comes from one of those wars, you know" Brielle stilled, swaying to angle her head down and stare at the glass under Aelin's legs. Soaking in blood, the glass was a pinical point for Brielle to focus until she glanced up. 

Connall was unblinking, in a way so unnerving Brielle paused all thought to return it. His eyes shifted to glare at the glass before flicking to her hand. Subconsciously, she tightened her hand around the object he had placed in her grasp before they were dragged into this room.

"From the glass mountains in the south. They were once sand dunes, but dragons burned them to glass during an ancient and bloody conflict." When Brielle snapped her gaze back to Connall, he had already turned away. 

Brielle hardly notes the small hum of amusement  Maeve emits as her heart hammers harder, unable to keep her gaze from flicking back to the glass, to the fire which had created it. The aerial beasts who had perished, their fire extinguished. Fire-bringers like Aelin. 

It's a struggle to think around the all consuming thoughts. Was Connall thinking the same thing she was now? What else does he know? He avoids her stare all throughout as Maeve lavishes in the refreshments brought out to her on platers.

"I'm growing tired of this," Brielle had to focus now, forcing herself to do so. Maeve leans forwards sharply on the throne. The lioness doesn't miss the movement of Enola as the spy flaps her wings.

"Do you believe, Aelin Galathynius, That I will not make the sacrifices necessary to obtain what I seek?"

The world stills as Aelin lifts her stare, paling as she glances at the smirk displayed full frontal on Maeve's expression. "Allow me to demonstrate," The queen lowers her attention to the dark haired warrior at the side of her throne. "Do it."

Even at the side of the room, Brielle spots her mates eyes widening in panic. As Connall drew one of the knives from off the length of his belt, she began fighting, 

"Don't-" The words were a whisper, barely making it from her lips as Connall stills standing above his brother. Fenrys growls low, full body shaking as he stares up at his twin, ear twitching at the sound of Brielle fighting to stand beside him.

"Don't" she pleads this time, If he ever felt anything towards her as he claims he does. Surely he would fight this oath for her. It was the only rational thought she clung to at the sight of her mate in danger, his life laid thin in the space before them. But Connall still did not look at her, nor acknowledge her plea.

Maeve's smile widened as she strokes down Enola's spine, Watching the chaos unfold before her, the owl fighting the urge to flap her wings.

Brielle ripped a shoulder forwards as a second pair of hands grabbed her, fighting her back down to her knees, "Don't. You fucking Coward!" She spat the words, willing every ounce of anger behind them, A slither of her magic thrummed in the air. Maeve sat forwards a hand flicking to extinguish it from existence. But all eyes were finally on her. Both of the Moonbeam brothers turned to watch her.

Connall flinched at her words. But Brielle couldn't care, only watching Fenrys, willing him to fight, to move to safety. 

"Please" her voice broke as Isaiah and the second guard grunted, a joint effort to collapse her down using body weight to muscle her to the ground. The only way to keep her still.

"I'm sorry..." Connall's voice was low, almost inaudible through the hammering of her own heart as an involuntary hand raised the knife between them. Fear spikes, spurring like dagger into her side, fighting harder to move against her old friends. For all of one second Isaiah loosened his grip, contemplating allowing her the freedom to save her mate. The same courtesy Brielle had once offered him.

As the light glimmers off the knife, Brielle's scream is coupled with Cairn's laugh as the blade is driven down. Brielle refusing to watch, squeezed her eyes shut, awaiting the pain of the bond being ripped from within her. A bond which had tethered her to Fenrys since the day they met in Vallen when she was a shell of nothing drifting in existence.

He had brought her back. Held her together when she threatened to crack and had given her the love that even she did not believe to be deserving of.

Aelin screams as a body collapses to the ground. The weight hits the tiled floor with an all resounding thump.

A warmth, a bond thrums strong, a pulse of life feeding her. Snapping her eyes open her attention darts to Fenrys, he is standing now clawing at the floor towards...

Connall was collapsed on the floor, a seeping pool of blood flowing from where the knife was embedded into his chest. A chest which was stuttering to rise.

There was a squawk from Enola as the owl flaps her wings in horror, watching with everyone else as Connall struggled to draw breath. Fenrys was whining, claws marking the tiles as he fought the oath keeping him in place.

Cairn laughs loudly when Connall glances to Brielle, bloodied hand outstretched, A finger subtly pointed to her. Brielle sobs against the floor, her breath restricted from where the guard still knelt on her back. Connall spluttered blood, choking on it as he pointed at.. not at her but her hand. Where she still clutched tightly to whatever he had given her. When he flicked her a soft smile Brielle stilled. Hand limping against the tiles as Connall looked to the air above him, eyes squeezing shut in pain as he clutched the knife in his chest.

"You tainted something that belonged to me, Aelin Galathynius and now it must be purged." The room is still, growing cold the moment Connall's chest falls, and does not rise again.

Fenrys' howl is hollow and void of its usual warmth. A mournful sound which splits the air in the room, Cascading down Brielle's spine as she sobs into the stone tiles.

There is a clatter as Aelin slumps forward, the crown falling from her head. 

"There is no one here to help you." Maeve shifts her stare to watch Brielle. "This night serves as a punishment for her as much as a reminder for you. No  one  is  coming  for you"

Brielle panted, tears pooling under her face, cooling her cheek. She stares at Aelin still slumped, from this angle Brielle watched as Aelin curls a hand around one of those glass shards.

"Think on it. Think on this night, Aelin" Maeve gives a quick snap of her fingers, "We're done here" At the dismissal, Cairn wraps his hand around the chains, Lifting Aelin as he does. 

It is at that moment the young queen strikes, twirling to stab a shard of glass into the side of Cairn's neck. As he drops her body to the ground, hands shift to clutch his throat. Staggering back, swearing as he does. 

Aelin spun on the glass, grabbing another piece Brielle was let go, the second guard races to detain Aelin, he isn't fast enough to stop her as she hurls a second piece of glass at Maeve.

It arches through the air, it catches Maeve's cheekbone before clattering down the side of the throne. Enola screeches finally lifting off the back of the throne to hover in the air.

Guards grab Aelin, as Maeve throws herself off the dias, "You little bitch"

Brielle can't help the laugh she lets lose into the stone, despite the pain lingering through her chest, As Aelin allows herself to be dragged back, smiling with truipmh, Unyeilding, as they lift her entirely and walk back towards the cells. Cairn glowers at Brielle as he stalks after them, hand holding his neck from where he has already ripped the shard free.

Brielle twisted her head, watching Maeve as she glanced down at her own hand, peering down to the blood marring her fingers. She caught onto Brielle's attention, dropping her hand and walked down the couple steps from the dias.

Waving a pale hand, "Get her up."

Isaiah lifts Brielle with ease, hand gripping her arms, pulling her to stand on feet that throbbed. Swaying at Maeve's eye level when the Queen ventured away from the dias to stop before her.

Brielle could feel herself shaking in Isaiah's hold, Maeve cast her stare up and down over the quiver in her body. Brought on not from fear, but instead anger, a storm deep rooted and waiting for the turn in tides. Maeve settled on staring her in the eyes, smirk marring her lips.

"Tread lightly girl, There are still ways to make you kneel." At her words, the scent of blood began to perfume into the air, Connall's blood. The queen cast her attention over her shoulder shifting just enough to provide Brielle a glimpse of where his body lay, growing cold against the floor.

Maeve turned to brush back a strand of her hair, flicking it over her shoulder. The smirk Brielle had worn for Aelin was long gone. Forced to face reality. A reality which no longer had Connall, a reality where they were all still caged.

"If you had contained yourself, he would still be alive right now." Maeve shifts so Brielle has a full view of the brothers on the ground, her hands shook at her side at the sight of Fenrys... of Connall. Her lip quivered and she looked away to hide the tears that slid down her cheek.

The pointed tips of Maeve's nails dug into her face when the queen grabbed her jaw, Forcing her head to turn back, forced to watch her mate and his dead twin.

"He would still have his twin brother." the world was shattering, the ground feeling soft and uneven under her feet. The only grip to stay standing was Isaiah's hold still unwavering at her back, for a second, Brielle felt him offer a soothing rub of his thumb along the bone of her elbow. 

She must have mistaken it...

The metallic scent of blood was sickening, and Maeve finally let go of her grip. Pain flickered across Brielle's jaw, vaguely aware of the deep scratch the queen left behind with her nails. Isaiah shuffled back as Maeve began to circle the Lioness. He gave Maeve the space to lean into Brielle's side, twirling a strand of her golden hair with a pale finger. 

"I must thank you. For opening the opportunity and allowing me to show the fire-bringer the lengths I might go." Her stomach rolled, feeling the closeness of Maeve's breath. The queen sighed staring out across to Connall. 

This time Brielle couldn't fight her stare away this time. Fenrys was laid flat, sprawled on the floor, exhausted from fighting to get closer to his brother. The pool of blood had begun to spoil the whiteness of his fur, If only she hadn't attacked Cairn...

"He is going to stain the tiles." Maeve rounded and patted Brielle on the cheek, she was so focused on watching her mate she barely acknowledged the touch, only felt the light sting it left behind.

Maeve was leisurely stalking back to the dias, "Clean this mess up would you?"

Fenrys was going to hate her... She couldn't look at him. She got his brother killed. It was as if it was her hand that held that dagger. His blood on her hands.

Maeve had made it back to the dias turning to sit down, waiting to watch as Brielle and her mate cleaned up the mess. Being responsible for moving his body.

The hand that guided her towards Connall trembled when they held her. Isaiah refused to speak, say anything. Brielle repulsed at the touch, at the sight he helped her to. She was so focused on the rhythm of her feet moving closer still, oblivious to the sympathetic expression her ex spy watched her with, her spy who's name was gifted to him for his acts. The Loyal. Here he was now aiding in her maltreatment.

Maeve watched them, eyeing up the ex-spy with excitement, "Go get me more refreshments. Betrayer."

He flinches at the name, and Brielle turns slightly to meet his stare, avoiding the pained expression on his face, he ignores her shaking his head and moves from the room. Brielle met Enola's stare when she turned slowly, nodding subtly as she turned to kneel beside Connall.

Fenrys had already shifted out of the body of the white wolf. Had crawled the final space separating him from his brother, knelt beside him now. Brielle almost wept when he tilted his head back and met her stare, She couldn't give Maeve more satisfaction in seeing her cry, even though all she wanted to do was weep at the sight of her mate's face.

"Fen..." It was obvious he was beyond the point of caring for Maeve as tears brimmed his eyes. He shifted to be at her side, silently taking in the comfort her presence offered.  He glanced down at Connall's face, his own in many ways. Stayed silently staring at his twin for a long while, 

Brielle's heart cinched when he reached, brushing two fingers over Connall's face, offering the respect of closing his eyes over one last time. Brielle watches Fenrys work up the courage to turn his attention to the knife in his brother's chest. Rubbing a hand into Fenrys' leg as he hesitated to reach for the blade. After a few seconds of his struggling, Brielle finally took hold on one of his hands, giving it a tight squeeze she offered the most gentle of smiles she could as she stilled her own nerve and turned to pull the knife from Connall's chest.

When she finally did raise her own hands, she halted, noticing how deathly still the air was. How foreign it looked for his chest to not be rising, A tear slid as she reached over. One hand clasped the hilt, an unknown feeling caged, locking itself into her chest. She didn't want her hand to touch him, didn't want to disturb or cause more damage than she already had.

Pulling on the knife lightly, she paused when it caught resistance in his chest. Wrapping her shaking fingers around it she tried again, it still did not budge, tears began to sting and putting the object in her other hand down beside her leg she hovered the hand over his chest. Flexing her fingers nervously she placed it against him. 

Already gone was his warmth, gone was the beating pulse of his heart. She didn't want to hurt him further, time seemed to still around them and she baited with her own breath, blood turning to ice in her veins, paralysing her entirely. In fear she would hurt him somehow if she moved.

A hand rose to clasp around her own, tilting her head sideways, suddenly realizing she was crying softly. Brielle blinked through the tears to stare at Fenrys. Her mate nodded softly, before he averted his attention back to the knife they both now held.

Leaning on to depend on one another for strength to pull the blade free. It sat between them in silence, Brielle taking the blade to rest it in her lap. 

"This isn't your fault" Fenrys was the first of them to break the silence. His voice- To hear it. Brielle couldn't bring herself to breath past the lump in her throat, hand tightening around the hilt of the dagger, Fenrys smoothes his hand into her free one. They hadn't spoken beyond a few quick exchanges since their argument in the marshes. When he had first found out about her death command.

Since then she had spent many nights being comforted by the bond between them, allowing it to enrapture her in its embrace imagining his arms wrapping around her body, a blanket of safety. A bond which could have been severed today, and it would have been her fault.

Fenrys leaned closer, using his own free hand to wipe away one of her tears and push his forehead to her own, Brielle closed her eyes grasping so tightly to his hands, she was sure bones would be broken.

Fenrys shifted slightly, staring down to their hands, the ability to finally connect with her. His brow furrowed when his attention landed on the object Brielle had placed between them. Brielle followed his line of sight, frowning down at the small thing Connall had slipped to her.

"That's the key to his room." His voice was hushed, eyes casting to stare at the queen who looked bored and rested back in her seat. Fenrys shook his head, glancing at the key Brielle had picked up once more, "I don't understand."

Brielle fought to keep her expression from collapsing, "I do." She knew her mate listened but she directed her attention to Connall, smiling as she cried softly, "I understand" Plucking the courage to reach for his hand and fighting the urge to retract her grip at the coldness she met in his touch.

She had to be realistic. No more morals. For Connall.

Taking half a second to savour the final time she would ever hold his hand, a new spark of anger branching off from her core. Tucking the dagger into the side of her boot, she slipped the key into her pockets as Fenrys shuffled to be at Connall's other side. Sliding his arms under his body in preparation for lifting his twin off the tiles.

"I know you well enough. Tell me you have a plan?" Through the guilt he broke as he grunted lifting Connall in once swift movement upwards. Brielle rose with them. Even after all of this, after everything that occurred tonight, Fenrys relished in the grin his mate sent his way.

"Of course. It's a mad one. But I have nothing else" Brielle could feel him studying her face as he took in her words. 

"I'll promise to be safe." She tried to ignore how limp Connall was in her mates arms. It was a struggle to look away, only turning to distract herself as Isaiah finally returned with Maeve's refreshments.

The queen turned her gaze away from them to receive her drink, 

Brielle leaned close, "I'm going to get us out." she lowered her tone, "Keep Aelin going and.." she paused, Fenrys continued to study her,

Adding softly, "Vera is still alive."

She did note how he chose his words carefully. Unable to say she was okay or unarmed. The thought made Brielle's skin crawl.

It was all she needed as Maeve rose and began demanding they continue, her focus no longer on her drink. Accepting this may be one of the few times Brielle saw Fenrys for a while she savoured the sights and scent of him, holding to it tightly and locking the memories away inside her.

A pang in her chest erupted when he moved to leave the room. A maid, one of the few left in the castle brought some rags and bubbly water into the room, at Maeve's gestures she left it on the ground at Brielle's feet.

Slowly she blinked her stare back to the queen, Maeve raised a single eyebrow before gesturing to the blood soaking the tiles.

Kneeling once more, Brielle took the rag into her hands and got to work.

~

Brielle screamed as she cried, throwing piles of papers from her desk. Using her arm in one swift sweeping motion to launch everything from the surface. Gripping to the underside she yanked upwards, flipping the desk onto its side.

Turning and grabbing fistfuls of the curtains, screaming she violently yanked them free from where they were bolted to the stone wall.

Rage was coursing, jackhammering in her chest, 

Connall was gone. Dead. Never coming back.

Breathing was a challenge, knees buckling under the weight of her own body. Collapsing onto a heap on the floor Brielle screamed the sound of a rasp from the pain blooming in her throat. A single tear slid. Despite the hour she had spent scrubbing her hands raw, even now she could still feel his blood coating them. Just like in Vallen.

There was a clatter by the wind-sill, grabbing a throwing knife from off her thigh, Brielle spun in one movement on the floor and threw it at the sound. 

Enola shifted sideways, catching the blade as it flew past her head.

"Seven Hells!" Brielle gasped, covering her mouth as Enola's wide eyes met hers.

"I never-" she couldn't help but gawk, "You know I'd never."

Enola's gaze softened, sighing as she weighs the knife in her hands, walking in slowly she lowers herself beside her leader. Sitting down on the ground, she stayed silent holding the knife into the space between them.

Brielle carefully took it, holding it in her lap she began to cry softly as the realisation smacked her. She had almost harmed one of her own. Holding a hand to stifle the sound of her sobs, she falls into Enola's lap when the other female pulls her into her embrace.

Wrapping both arms around the Lioness and rocking their bodies together, rubbing soothing circles into her leaders lower back.

They sat together as Brielle cried, sat until her sobbing died down and she relaxed as Enola stroked her fingers through her hair. A comfort Brielle hadn't felt in so long that the touch felt foreign.

"I sent the letters out." Brielle sat up, moving from her spy's hold to look her in the eye.

"It should reach Regan in two nights." Brielle could have sobbed at the relief that flooded her. It was a risk for Enola to send letters. She was the one out of them who could. Cairn monitored everything Brielle did near the courier's and runners who got the letters out. Maeve had already ordered the deaths of those Brielle' trusted to use in her spy court. They had all gotten out of Doranelle before they met their untimely ends.

"How do we know world-walking is the way to go..." Despite her straight to point words, Brielle could see the hesitancy written on Enola's expression.

Brielle gripped her hand around Enola's. "We must have faith in one another. Trust. Regan and the others know what they're doing." Even if the thoughts made her feel sick, Brielle had to trust her spies. Each one of them had their own networks and individual things that made them valuable. She had taught each and every one of them to harness those skills, sharpening them into weapons so deadly she knew they could take care of themselves. Even if they weren't in this world. Regan was no different.

Brielle nodded, rationalising her thoughts, she pulled the key from her pocket. It was something she had been dreading, but knew the importance it held. The last memories of speaking to Connall, he had given her this...

 he slips something cold and small into her hand. Clamping her fingers around it.

There were footsteps drawing closer, She heard the shift in his heartbeat, giving way to the obvious scent of panic "Brielle... Don't be moral" He was nodding softly ",Be realistic." He was pulled back from her, catching her stare when he was yanked to stand above her....

Tightening her hand around the key. Brielle finally stood, Enola watched her studying her Commanders expression warily before rising slowly, 

"What are you going to do?"

Brielle met her stare, "I'm going to be realistic." Or find out whatever he wanted her to know.

Enola nodded in thought, eyeing up the key in her Commanders hand, The breeze blowing in gently from the open window, its curtains heaped on the floor before them, "I best get back before Maeve goes looking for me."

Even at her words, Brielle could see the disdain on her spy's expression, of all these years Brielle had been avoiding the queen. Enola had been on her shoulder bearing witness to all the abuse she ruled out in her court.

"I'm sorry for everything." Brielle tucked the key back to its place in her pocket, reaching to clasp Enola's hands. "I will get us all out." 

Despite the conviction she forced into her words, she couldn't forgo the helplessness she felt at the wary expression Enola wore, as though she solely believed she was destined to be beside the queen for the rest of her immortal lifespan.

"I would care if you just got yourself out." Enola's words were soft, almost inaudible. "Probably do more good that way." she glances down, fidgeting with her fingers.

"You know I can't just-"

"I know." she nodded, finally looking back up, pulling her hands from her own, Enola moved to the window. Turning over her shoulder before climbing over the banister of the balcony. "Just make her pay."

As Enola shifted and flew over the edge, Brielle straightened up and turned for the door. The suffering of Maeve was the only thing she could promise anyone anymore.

Pulling herself into the hallway she grasped the key tightly as she moved down the narrow way towards Connall's shut bedroom door. There was no point waiting right now, no amount of tie would or could bring him back, even if she hoped to find him waiting inside for her. Waiting to make some flirtatious comment towards her. How she hadn't seen it before..

Pushing the key into place, Brielle stayed in the doorway as she swung the door open. It creaked loudly, across the silence of the now empty quarters they all used to share. It was like ringing a church bell across a sleeping city.

Stepping in instantly, she fought to keep herself breathing, eyes darting around his room, to the glasses of water left on his bedside, to the ruffled pillows laid half-haphazardly at where he had slept. His ornamental daggers displayed across the room, a tear slide as she eyes up the collection she had gathered for him over the years. She stills at the pile of neatly placed objects on the chest, positioned at the end of his bed.

She stills at the pile of neatly placed objects on the chest, positioned at the end of his bed.

Taking careful steps further into the room, Brielle stopped before the chest. Leaning to inspect the array of things left behind by Connall.

The piles were organised into sections of loose pages. Books. Scrolls and maps.

Picking up one of the loose pages, she began to scan its contents. The context of the parchment made her stomach roll. Dropping it to pick up a couple extra pieces of text, her eyes began to scan faster and faster darting back and forth across each page. 

Heart hammering. Picking up one of the books, she turned it over slowly. The leather bound book was old, the pages inside barely holding together in the bindings. Running a hand down, Brielle felt the engraving in the pictures. An ancient beast drawn into the leather itself.

The Ancient fire-breathing beast was depicted onto the front, the pages giving locations and information. Brielle moved to sit on the corner of his bed, the scent of him still lingering on the sheets.

The book dropped from her hand, as Brielle slowly began to realise what it was Connall had done. He had been the one to source the Dragon glass Aelin had knelt on. Maeve had given him the task... and in doing so...

Connall had wanted her to be realistic. No more morals. He had left it all here for her— Knew she could figure it out. 

And she had called him a coward of all things, he walked into that room knowing he was going to die and yet had left her this. No cowardly act in sight. Brielle breathed in sharply to fight the rising bile back down.

This changes everything, Brielle quickly begins to gather all the resources, pilling them into her arms, as many as she could carry in one trip. 

Even in his death he may have just given her the upper hand to help Aelin win this war. 

The Lioness glanced around his room, its owner destined to never return, and yet he had ensured she would have everything she needed. 

She stills as she nears the door, the open window at the edge of the room made her pause, melodic sound poured in gathering all her attention. From somewhere deep in the city she could hear singing, A mournful sound which prickled her skin like the first lick of winters frigid touch.

A reminder for those they had lost. A song played as a reminder for those she had lost. Taking a quiet second to herself, this was all the mourning she could afford to give herself so she took one final glance around his room. A tribute to the memory of him.

Turning away quickly Brielle began to rush back to her room, away from the agony in her chest, The Lioness had lots of planning to do and little room to mourn.

. . .

Taglist: @dreamiezpsycho @lunaralaraspace @mis-lil-red @mali22 @the-fae-are-taking-over

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[jsmelodies]

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Nessian

Till the Dawn Breaks

An expansion of what happened after the events of the prison in ACOSF (One shot, completed)

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AU where Cassian loses his ability to fly in the final battle with Hybern, and Nesta and Cassian learn to heal together on more equal footing (Multi-chapter, in progress)

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Three times Nesta rescued her human mate in the forest, and the one time he gave a helping hand back. (One shot, completed)

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Cassian thought it was supposed to be simple.

1. Find the witch in the woods. 2. Convince said witch to give him Ataraxia. 3. Rescue the princess from the dragon guarding her tower, with said sword, from said witch.

If only the damned witch stopped getting in his way. (Multi-chapter, completed)

Family Man

Moments in time of Nesta and Cassian's journey as parents. Or, five times Cassian shows his family he loves them, and one time they show it back. (Multi-chapter, In progress)

Apex Predator

Cassian gets himself captured by a group of Illyrians, and Nesta will stop at nothing to rescue him. (One shot, completed)

The Relapse

AU where Nesta relapses after finding out the truth about her made weapons. (Multi-chapter, In progress)

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AU where Cassian is there for Nesta immediately after the war. Nesta wants to push him away, but finds herself unable to. (One shot, completed)

Elucien

I'd Go Back to the Winter: ACOTAR Gift Exchange 2024

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Lucien’s jackets keep disappearing. He’s determined to find out who’s stealing them. (One shot, possibility for more)

Nesta & Rhys

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Nesta thinks Rhysand might actually kill her this time. After a tense family dinner, Rhysand and Nesta finally come to an understanding with each other. (One shot, completed)

[princess-leaorgana]

What Tieflings Do Chptr 5

Summary: After the takedown of The Absolute, Zelphie finds her city in need of more help and her home destroyed. She won't stop helping, but who can help her?

Rolan x Tav (Zelphie; ~30y.o AFAB, Sorcerer, Tiefling, not really described physically on purpose <3)

M/F

Author's Note: I fucking love tielfings. Along with this being a budding romance/smut/fluff/word vomit fanfiction, it's also my case study in DnD 5e tieflings, how they act, what sets them apart from humans and devils and elves. That being said, I have a few artistic liberties in here as well where I couldn't find a straight answer, if you'll amuse me.

Warnings - Spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3, smut and way too much domestic fluff. WAY TOO MUCH. Have your dentist on fucking speed dial, I can't reign her in boys. Genuinely, if you don't like self-serving fluff, you're going to hate this and me. Love you, you little biscottis.

Chapter One Two Three Four

Rolan was not a sound sleeper. He tossed and turned in his sleep and Zelphie wasn’t much better. She stole his pillow sometime in the middle of the night. Rolan was very early to rise, Zelphie wasn’t so much. It wasn’t nice for her to wake up alone that morning and she groaned and stretched. She sat up with a yawn, looking around.

‘Rolan?’ She called, hoping that he was maybe just in the washroom, but she heard nothing. She frowned and looked at her bedside table. Her frown disappeared instantly. A glass and pitcher of water, a little note and a black water lily had been placed there. She grinned to herself and picked up the pretty flower, her favorite, just as she had told him last night. This was a lovely way to wake up. She reached for the note and laid back on her pillow.

My sleeping darling,

Waking up next to you in the morning, the dawn’s warm glow on your rosy skin, it made it very hard to pull myself from bed. With every fiber of my being, I did, for I have a lot to do today, and the sooner it is all done, the sooner I can return to our privacy. I will be having my normal breakfast with Lia and Cal and I will inform them of our new found adoration for each other. I don’t believe I can face them without telling them the full truth, you’ll have to forgive me, but we never keep things from each other. When you wake, please take your time, bathe, drink your tea, play with little Lajy, have your breakfast, move whatever items you’d like of yours into this room. 

I’ll consider all of what I own to be yours. If it would bring you joy, you may have it. 

I will be attending the shop when you are ready, but please, come as you would like. If you would like. I would like you to.

-R

Zelphie had never received a cute little letter from a partner before. Not like this one. She bit her lip and looked around the room. Lajy had made his way up on the bed and was snoozing by her feet. She reached over and picked the kitten up. He lazily snuggled on her chest and neck and Zelphie drank a glass of water. After the drinking and physical activities last night, she would do very well to hydrate.

Once she was a little more awake, she got ready for the morning, having to, unfortunately, go across the hall to grab some clothing for the day. She would help down in the shop, dressing nicely for customers. And maybe for Rolan. A purple wrap dress and black slippers it was. Plus one little accessory. She wore her hair in a bun and placed the black lily on the side of it. She preened a little more, and her and Lajy walked down to the kitchen for breakfast. No elementals were to be found, but someone was. Cal. He was cooking. Zelphie went bright red, knowing it was very likely Cal knew about last night by now. She cleared her throat and Cal turned around. His eyes widened when he saw Zelphie.

‘Well well well,’ he said and leaned on the counter he was working at, crossing his arms. ‘Couldn’t just be set with a room in a wizard’s tower, had to give its master a ride for his money, hm?’ He asked playfully, but Zelphie would have rather been executed. Cal laughed at her and shook his head. ‘I mean FINALLY Zelphie. The two of you, ever since Last Light Inn, Lia and I have been making bets on when you two would finally get over your stubbornness and you know…’ he said and bobbed his head. Zelphie frowned, this was just as torturous as she thought it would be.

‘How does everyone know?’ She asked and he laughed. He pointed at her middle.

‘Your tail, his tail. Both of you go full primitive when you see each other, it’s-‘ he stopped when he looked at the ground. ‘Is that a cat?’ He asked and Zelphie looked down at Lajy. He was sniffing around the kitchen.

‘Yes, Lajy, I found him yesterday,’ she said and Cal laughed.

‘Anything else? Had a romp with my brother, adopt a cat and name it love, wedding bells next? Or am I going to be an uncle?’ He teased and Zelphie scoffed.

‘Please don’t,’ she whined a little and walked over to pour herself some coffee.

‘Come on, give me a little something, do you know how many people Rolan used to bring back home to meet us?’ He asked and Zelphie glanced at him. She would very much like to know the answer to that question. ‘Not exactly many. I think three,’ he said and Zelphie went back to her coffee. ‘So, I never got to experience teasing him over it like all brothers usually do, I’ll stop, I promise. Well. Teasing you,’ he said and went back to cooking. He was baking a pie of some sort.

‘Don’t tease him too much, though…oh I do like him grumpy,’ she said and sipped her coffee.

‘I knew you were my favorite,’ Cal said and laughed.

‘But if you are nice to your brother…I’ll have Astarion over for tea later tonight. If you…would like that,’ she said and Cal froze and glanced at her.

‘You…you would?’ He asked and she giggled, nodding.

‘I think he likes you,’ she said and opened the ice box and found a few cubes of beef for Lajy to eat. She fixed him a bowl of water and beef and set it on the floor. The kitten ran right over and began to devour the meat. ‘I’m going to the shop, how angry is Lia at me?’ She asked and Cal wrinkled his nose.

‘You will receive a lecture, but she’s not angry. Just, protective,’ he warned her and Zelphie nodded.

‘Thank you for the warning,’ she said and walked out of the kitchen with her coffee to use the portal to Sorcerer’s Sundries. She’d like to get the fight with Lia over and done with. Cal always softened blows, he would never warn her that Lia was actually angry at her. He was a pacifist and never saw the bad side of anything or anyone.

The store was busy, it was morning and that was the busiest it ever was. Rolan was leaning his hand against the large counter in the middle of the shop, talking with a woman who was dressed very finely. Zelphie walked over to the pair, but her arm was caught instead and she was pulled away.

‘No no, you are coming with me.’ Lia had seen her before anyone else did. Zelphie obeyed and followed Lia to the back of the shop, knowing a scolding was on its way.

‘Lia, please, I haven’t even finished my coffee,’ Zelphie told her, begging for her to have some mercy. Lia held up a quick hand.

‘First and foremost, between a powerful wizard and a world saving sorcerer, one of the two of you could be decent enough to know a spell that will silence your bedrooms from the rest of the tower,’ she said and Zelphie almost passed out.

‘You could hear us?’ She asked and Lia nodded. Zelphie placed her hand over her face, now refusing to look at Lia.

‘Secondly, promise me you won’t hurt him,’ she continued and Zelphie froze. After a second she lowered her hand. Lia was staring at her. ‘If you hurt him, Zelphie, I promise you I will hurt you back,’ she said and Zelphie nodded.

‘You don’t need to threaten me, I would never hurt him. I love him,’ she said and glanced back over at the counter. Rolan was still talking with that woman. ‘I know a lot of people have hurt him and taken advantage of him, I know it’s your job to protect him, but I’m not a threat, Lia, I promise you that,’ she said and looked back at her friend. Lia’s face softened a bit and she nodded.

‘Well, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, I’m happy,’ she said and Zelphie smiled a little. ‘I know this sounds silly after what I just said, but…I know you’ll be good to him, you’ll be patient with him. He needs someone like you,’ she said and Zelphie’s smile only grew.

‘Thank you, Lia, that means a lot,’ she said and Lia walked closer and hugged her.

‘Just don’t be too gross in front of Cal and me, or the customers,’ she said and Zelphie laughed.

‘How gross is too gross?’ She asked and Lia laughed, nudging her.

‘Come on, you didn’t meet Satah yesterday, come and meet Rolan’s new apprentice,’ she said and nodded at the counter. Zelphie followed Lia to the counter, her heart beating a little harder than normal. Rolan was still talking but caught Lia and Zelphie in his eyeline and grinned up at them.

‘Ah! And here is the rest of my family, Satah. You met Cal and Lia yesterday, this is Zelphie,’ Rolan said and Zelphie nervously smiled at the woman. Beautiful elf with hazelnut skin and long braids. Satah turned and smiled, holding out her hand to greet Zelphie.

‘Goodness! What a big family you have, it’s wonderful to meet another one of Rolan’s sisters,’ she said and Lia snorted a laugh. Zelphie froze a little, though why the hells Rolan introduced her as family was beyond her.

‘Oh, I’m sorry, no, Zelphie isn’t my sister, she’s my wife,’ he said, though that was absolutely not correct and Zelphie could only hear a faint ringing. Twelve hours ago, they hadn’t even kissed. Now they are married. What was happening to her? Was she awake?

‘Oh! Oh, I’m sorry, of course! Master Rolan told me about you yesterday, I didn’t know you were married, ha! Oh that’s so sweet, well, it’s lovely to meet you all the same,’ she said and Zelphie nodded.

‘Lovely to meet you as well, Satah. Rolan is very particular when it comes to everything in his life, so naturally, you must be incredibly talented to make it through him,’ Zelphie managed and let go of the woman’s hand.

‘Satah, let me show you the basement really quickly, I’m sure Rolan’s been talking your ear off and you should get a tour first,’ Lia said, taking Satah’s arm to give Rolan and Zelphie some privacy after that insane moment. Satah and Lia left and Zelphie looked up at Rolan who was just smiling at her.

‘Your wife?’ She asked and Rolan frowned a little.

‘Yes, uhm….I-uhm…I didn’t know what else to call you,’ he fumbled and cleared his throat. ‘I’ll clear it up, I promise. I’m sorry,’ he said and Zelphie’s heart melted a little.

‘Don’t apologize, just warn me before we get married,’ she told him and he stifled a little chuckle. ‘I’d like to dress better,’ she added and he laughed.

‘You look very nice this morning,’ he said politely and she grinned.

‘You’ve seen me in better,’ she told him, a little flirt and he went bright red.

‘Hush hush, not in front of the customers,’ he told her with a grin.

‘Why not? Aren’t married couples supposed to flirt a little?’ She teased him and he hushed her again, getting a little visibly annoyed, sending her into a giggle fit. ‘Alright, alright, get back to work, Master Rolan,’ she said and turned away from him to find someone to help on the floor. Luckily for both of them the store was very busy. Cal showed up to help as best he could. He had done a great job of memorizing how the store was stocked. He would ask a million questions a day, but once either Zelphie or Rolan or even Satah specified what the customer wanted, he knew exactly where to go looking.

‘So, Lia told me you are the reason for the ending of the apocalypse.’ Zelphie was showing Satah around as the place slowed down a little. Zelphie figured she would get to know the woman a little more. She did seem very nice and very knowledgeable.

‘Me and a lot of other people,’ Zelphie corrected her and Satah laughed.

‘She also warned me you were humble to a fault. I think she’s right,’ she said and Zelphie smirked. ‘Still, not even your powerful husband was by your side, he was here, wasn’t he manning the towers? I would have been terrified  if I didn’t have my wife by my side during that,’ she said and there were about four things Zelphie wanted to ask there, but she settled on one.

‘You’re married?’ She asked and Satah nodded.

‘Yes, with two little ones as well, Gemma always says, one for her, one for me. Both boys,’ she said and Zelphie grinned.

‘That’s lovely,’ she said and Satah nodded.

‘Most lovely that I still have all of them,’ she said and placed a hand on Zelphie’s shoulder, a very kind touch. ‘Thank you for saving them,’ she said and Zelphie’s eyes widened. No matter how many people thanked her as she went through her day, it still shocked her and made her freeze.

‘I’m really happy you still have them,’ she said and nodded. ‘Not a lot of people can say the same, I’m afraid,’ she said and Satah nodded, letting her hand down.

‘I know I’m very lucky, thank you all the same,’ she said and Zelphie nodded.

‘It’s…I’m happy that I could have helped them,’ she settled on. A moment passed between her and Satah and she sighed. ‘I’m sorry if this is strange, but Rolan introduced me as his wife, I’m…I’m not his wife,’ she said and Satah’s green eyes widened.

‘Oh?’ She asked and Zelphie laughed a little.

‘I don’t…know why he said that. We uhm, we just started to see each other romantically, even though we have known each other for a while, and he just…likes his own privacy. I think referring to me as his lover or something like that would have made him feel strange. Though, I would beg that calling me his spouse has made things much more strange,’ she explained and Satah laughed a little.

‘I’m sorry if that was awkward for you this morning, then,’ she said and Zelphie grinned.

‘The entire last six months have been awkward for me, that wasn’t really anything.’ The day continued, everyone took turns showing Satah around and just before dinner, she left and the shop closed for the evening.

‘Zelphie, you got a package today,’ Cal called as he was tidying the front counter.

‘Oh?’ Zelphie looked up as her mage hand put some books away on a high shelf. She walked over and saw a large package. She inspected it and smiled. ‘Oh! Well, what on earth did he send me?’ She wondered out loud. The package came from Waterdeep, and she only knew one person from there. She opened the letter and grinned.

Dearest Zelphie,

It has only been a few days, but it feels like all that we have lived through together was a lifetime ago, now that I’m back home. I have heard from a little birdie who will remain nameless that you have moved to Ramazith’s Tower and I am delighted to hear that news. Take advantage of your luxury. A wizard’s tower is homey and comforting, but it is a place of academic achievement and you will only get better by reading and watching Rolan as your teacher as he helps you really hone in on your magical talents. Please warn him not to teach you anything involving electricity, I would be remiss if I didn’t warn him what you’re capable of. My tunic still has that singe from our last lesson.

Please have Rolan accept these back, I feel awfully guilty that I still have them, as I meant to give them back before I left North. They are one of a kinds and I will admit they are hard to hand back over, but that knowledge should be shared, and I have already used them. I know Rolan will put them to better use and more responsible a man than never was.

Please keep in touch, Zelphie. I was very very glad for that short, bleak moment in my life, to call you a friend.

-Gale Dekarios

Zelphie smiled through the note and placed it on the counter. She opened the package and laughed. Three books, all glowing with a purple protection spell on them. 

‘Rolan!’ She called happily and Rolan came over from the back counter. ‘Rolan! Gale sent these, they were in the shop before, oh my goodness, I can’t believe he sent them back,’ she said and handed him one. Once she touched one, the spell disappeared. Rolan raised an eyebrow, reading the binding.

‘The Annals of Karsus?’ He asked and looked at her. ‘This was here?’ He asked and Zelphie nodded.

‘Yes, keep that locked away, further than where it was originally,’ she warned him. Cal looked into the box and pulled out a second book and hissed and dropped it. The book had bitten him.

‘What in the hells?’ He asked and Zelphie giggled, picking up the book and handing it to Rolan, the spell also fading as she did.

‘Don’t touch the magic books, Cal,’ she told him and pulled out the last one. This one had not come from the shop, but it might as well have stayed with the second book, The Necromancy of Thay. Rolan frowned when he was handed that particular book, as would anyone that had to look at that ugly thing.

‘Well, he has my thanks, if I were an intelligent person, I might have these burned, but I’ll keep these safe,’ he said and Zelphie grinned at him. She handed him the letter to read, very happy that the two might now connect.

‘That book looks evil,’ Lia said, looking at the necromancy book.

‘It is,’ Zelphie warned her and looked up at Rolan. ‘Profane knowledge, but knowledge, nonetheless,’ she said and Rolan nodded.

‘I’ll put it under the cannons,’ he said and Zelphie smirked.

The four finished cleaning up the shop and went home. After a bit of an awkward dinner, Lia stole the family’s new kitten and Cal followed her. Lia had told Cal about Rolan’s earlier slip up, calling Zelphie his wife and he would not allow that subject to go. Sibling teasing would never be something anyone could age out of, apparently. As they left, Rolan looked at Zelphie and sighed.

‘So,’ he began and played with his wine goblet a little. ‘Uhm,’ he continued and Zelphie giggled a little at him.

‘Yes?’ She asked him and he clicked his tongue.

‘I’m sorry, I don’t know exactly how to navigate this. Behaving and being civil all day for show after a night of…not behaving,’ he said and Zelphie grinned.

‘You think all of that was behaving?’ She asked and he frowned, making her laugh. ‘I’m sorry, but if Cal can tease you, I’m entitled to a little. I did tell Satah the truth, just so you know. I couldn’t help it, she started to tell me about her family and I felt as though I should tell her that we aren’t there ourselves, it felt natural to tell her,’ she explained and he nodded.

‘I am very sorry, I genuinely thought that was the most intelligent route. But it’s no matter, I don’t think I’ll be keeping her, to be honest,’ he said and Zelphie frowned.

‘Why not?’

‘She lied, she’s not a wizard, she’s a cleric of Mystra,’ he explained and sipped his wine.

‘Well, maybe she can’t be your apprentice, but wouldn’t you want to keep her around? A cleric of Mystra would be a good asset,’ she told him and he shook his head.

‘Ramazith’s Tower will no longer hold siege to people who lie for their own benefit. You are right, if she had told me about herself honestly the first time, I would have still hired her, but she lied. She lied to get what she wanted, and I don’t believe I can tolerate anyone else lying to me,’ he went on and Zelphie frowned.

‘Give her a second chance?’ She asked and Rolan sighed.

‘I will think about it,’ he answered and Zelphie nodded, knowing that was the best she could get.

‘Though, I’m glad. I can still be your apprentice, if you’ll still have me,’ she said and a smile grew on Rolan’s face.

‘If I’ll still have you? Oh, the understatement of the century, my dear,’ he said and she grinned at him.

The couple left for Rolan’s study. It was a strange room, dummies for targets, ritual circles on the floor, a static feeling of the Weave all around the room. There weren’t so many books here, making it seem very out of place for the tower. This was where Rolan studied spells and would teach Zelphie when he had the patience. Zelphie was not exactly a good student. Days of teaching her basic illusionary tricks had proven that to him. She was too nervous to perform properly and would be distracted by those nerves. But he would do it, he would make a wizard out of his little sorcerer.

‘Alright, feet about shoulders’ length apart,’ he said and watched her. ‘Toes straight out,’ he said and walked around her as she fixed her posture. She watched him and he kept checking her. ‘Don’t look at me,’ he told her and she looked forward. It was hard to follow his direction of ‘pretend he wasn’t here’ and also take direction from him. He walked closer to her and plucked the lily from her bun, handing it to her. ‘Look at it, memorize it,’ he told her and she held the flower delicately in her hand. A black lily, her favorite flower. That would make this easier. She memorized the deep color, the little spots, the pollinator, the stem, all of it. Even how it weighed in her hand. ‘Do you have it?’ He asked softly and she nodded. Rolan snapped his hands and the lily fizzled in a static purple cloud and she gasped. The lily she had been wearing all day hadn’t been real. It was Rolan’s magic, how powerful was he? ‘Close your eyes, find harmony, and repeat the somatic component when you are focused,’ he said softly.

Zelphie took in a deep breath, picturing the flower in her mind. The black, spotted petals, the green stem, the orange pollinators. She found peace in the moment, remembering waking up to see the flower, hoping that joy and memory would serve her well. She muttered the incantation and she felt something tickle her fingers. She opened her eyes and Rolan shouted a happy cry.

‘Zelphie!’ He shouted and grabbed her shoulders happily. ‘Look at that! Ha!’ He cheered happily. ‘She can be taught! With the help of a professional of course,’ he said, he was so happy, but Zelphie frowned when she saw what she had created. Six black leaves. Was it an improvement? Yes. But she had hoped with his excitement for perfection. Or at least a flower.

‘Rolan, this isn’t anything,’ she said and the leaves fizzled away. Rolan shook his head.

‘No! You are brilliant!’ He took her face in his hands and kissed her squarely.  That shocked her, this behavior wasn’t very like him, but he was happy. ‘This is much better than you zapping me,’ he said. Yes, he was very happy indeed. She smiled at him and nodded. ‘I’m so proud of you,’ he continued and her smile grew instantly. Her tail thumped happily against the floor.

‘You are?’ She asked, feeling like she was melting in his hands.

‘Of course I am! That is a terrific improvement, you made organic material, my darling you are brilliant,’ he said and kissed her forehead. She laughed happily, very happy for his joy, it was contagious. He was proud of her, oh there was nothing better for her. The joy in his eyes, the yellow glow buried by his happy smiling cheeks.

‘Can we try again?’ She asked and he nodded happily.

The couple worked very hard for the next few hours until Zelphie was getting delusional. No lily was summoned that evening, but she did at one point summon a sunflower. It faded quickly, and Zelphie was a little upset that she couldn’t play with it, but she was very happy. Rolan was beside himself with joy and rang for tea.

‘You, oh you, you will get quite the treat, oh what shall we do to celebrate your victory?’ He asked her and sat on a little chaise and she followed, sitting down close to him. Her tail curled up behind him.

‘Oh, I can think of something,’ she told him softly and he chuckled, leaning close to her.

‘Mmm, that will be my reward for my wonderful teaching, you deserve your own treat,’ he purred and she got a shiver up her spine. ‘Something sweet for you, hm? What would my darling like?’ He asked, brushing a stray hair from her face. She laughed at him, he was being very sweet.

‘What? Like a cake?’ She asked and he shrugged.

‘If that is what you would like,’ he said and leaned over, pouring them some tea. Zelphie thought about it for a moment, feeling a little silly. Like a child being treated after a chore well done.

‘Could I ask for something even more childish than that?’ She asked and he laughed, handing her her cup.

‘You can ask for whatever you’d like,’ he told her and leaned back on the chaise, ready for her request.

‘Tonight…before we sleep…oh, well, uhm,’ she laughed and shook her head. ‘Could we sleep together again tonight?’ She asked and he smirked.

‘Is that what you want? That’s not a treat my darling, that’s a given,’ he told her. She smiled and shook her head.

‘No, I was just hoping you would be open to it, sharing your bed again, I don’t want to be clingy,’ she told him and he laughed. He pulled at her tail that was coiled around him. ‘Sorry,’ she said with a smile and he shook his head.

‘You aren’t going to apologize for that, oh Zelphie, no. No, darling, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea of how I’m feeling. I’m very happy, I want you to be with me as much as possible. Honestly, I can’t get enough of you,’ he told her and grinned. She felt sillier than she had just a moment ago. ‘I wrote you that note this morning, and I meant it. My bed is no longer mine, it’s ours. If you want to have your privacy, you still have your room, I’m not taking that from you, but if you want to sleep beside me tonight and tomorrow and the next day and the next, I’m very happy with that,’ he told her and she sipped her tea, her heart spinning.

‘I’m not used to all of this,’ she said and he smirked. ‘I just…’ she sighed and shrugged. ‘Never been loved so much,’ she said and he shook his head.

‘I don’t believe that, that can’t be right,’ he said and she shook her head.

‘No one has ever treated me like you treat me, Rolan. Nothing like this, and I’m afraid it’ll be over soon,’ she said and his face softened a little.

‘Why would it be over?’ He asked and she shrugged.

‘When you get tired of me,’ she said and he scowled.

‘Zelphie, if you are going to think like that, you’re going to be miserable. You think that I don’t fear that as well?’ He asked and she frowned and sipped her tea again, a little nervous about this conversation. ‘Life may happen, but I’m not just having fun with you here. I care about you very very much. If I ever give you cause to doubt that, tell me, for I’m misrepresenting myself,’ he told her and she nodded. ‘And until you tell me to stop, I’m going to show you just how much you mean to me every single day,’ he said and she opened her mouth to protest, but he held up his hand. ‘We will start with you telling me how you would like to be rewarded for your hard work tonight,’ he continued and sipped his tea. She just looked at him for a moment, happy. That was it, happy, content, safe.

‘I was hoping before we sleep you could..maybe read to me,’ she suggested and his eyebrows shot up. ‘I uhm, saw the book on your nightstand and I felt bad that you didn’t have time to read last night. And Rolan…I really love your voice,’ she said and he went deep red at that compliment. ‘It’s so soft and low…I don’t know, I just think it would be a nice way to fall asleep,’ she said and he nodded.

‘Then you will have it,’ he told her simply and sipped his tea.

‘And what would you like for your efforts?’ She asked and he chuckled.

‘You know exactly what I’d like,’ he said softly and Zelphie giggled.

‘That’s not fair, I was going to give you that anyway,’ she told him and he grinned.

‘That’s all that I desire,’ he told her simply. Their tea was finished very quickly after that.

The couple walked to Rolan’s bedroom and outside the door, scratching to get in was Lajy. Zelphie scooped him up and gave the little kitten kisses and rubs. Rolan led her inside and Zelphie placed Lajy on the sofa. The kitten hopped down to run around the room and explore. Rolan walked around to change and Lajy took to chasing Rolan’s tail. That made Rolan laugh, which Zelphie was very happy for.

‘I should have done what you suggested and brought my clothes in here,’ she said and Rolan looked up at her and he undressed.

‘Only do what you are comfortable with,’ he told her, reassuring her that his suggestion was permission, not a request.

‘I think it will be easier, maybe not all of my clothing, but at least a few nightgowns,’ she said and sat in the bed. Rolan smiled and thumbed through his wardrobe and picked up a white shirt. He walked over to her and placed it on the bed next to her.

‘Maybe not as flattering, but maybe this will do for tonight,’ he told her. She ran her fingers over the shirt and smiled. Wearing his shirt to bed was certainly a nice thought. As she looked at the shirt, Rolan looked at her. He reached out and played with a loose lock of hair that had fallen from her bun earlier. ‘I liked the lily in your hair today, it was very pretty,’ he told her and she smiled at him.

‘Thank you for making it for me…that…was incredibly thoughtful,’ she said and bit her bottom lip. He smiled, a little pride on his lips. ‘One thing to go and have one fetched, it’s another thing entirely that you made it for me,’ she continued and he nodded and laughed.

‘Don’t expect all your gifts to be manufactured by magic. Or some of them will surely disappear,’ he told her, running his fingers from her hair down her face.

‘All of my gifts?’ She asked him and he grinned. ‘Oh, no no, no gifts. I’ve been given enough,’ she told him and he laughed.

‘That request is denied,’ he told her. She wrinkled her nose at him. Along with everything else, Zelphie was not easy to accept gifts. Rolan should be used to that by now. ‘Request,’ he repeated and lowered his face to hers. ‘Denied.’ He kissed her sweetly, stroking her chin with his thumb. She kissed him back happily, thumping from her tail on the bed could be heard. She placed a hand on the leather belt that kept his robes fashioned to him. She untied the strings and once the belt hit the floor, Rolan quickly shuffled the thick fabric off on his shoulders. He stood in a wrap shirt and trousers and Zelphie leaned back in the bed to get a little look at him. The disconnect of the kiss made Rolan stand up straight and place his hands on his hips. ‘What?’ He asked as she continued to stare at him.

‘Turn around,’ she said and twirled her finger in the air. He raised an eyebrow but after a beat he sighed and did as she asked. She took one more moment to look at his back. He had such a strong figure, not the usual when looking at the body of a wizard. His broad shoulders sloped delicately to his strong waist. She pulled on the strings of his trousers, just above his tail. His tail wrapped around her calf and she grinned. She loved when he did that, whether he meant to or it was instinct. She liked being wanted, being claimed by him. He pulled down his pants, Zelphie gave his taught little backside a pinch. He yelped and turned around and she laughed. ‘I’m sorry, you’ve got a very cute bum,’ she told him and he shook his head.

‘That’s the second word you’ve used on me that I don’t like,’ he said with a playful smile. ‘Silly? Cute? Me? No, no absolutely not,’ he told her and she laughed. He unwrapped his shirt and she got off the bed, undressing herself.

‘Go sit on the bed,’ she told him, untying her dress. He did as he was told, stark naked and just watched her. She glanced at him when she heard his tail thump on the bed just as hers did earlier. That made her heartbeat hard. Once she was down to nothing, she walked over to him and knelt down. ‘Now, a treat for my very hardworking and patient professor,’ she said, holding his cock gently in her hand. He moaned lightly and she kissed his inner thighs, stroking him very gently as his erection grew. After the initial shock, his hands found her hair, untying her bun to let her hair down. He ran his fingers through it. She kissed and licked the ridges of his thighs, they were terribly tight. She would give him a massage later. 

‘My beauty, nothing compares to you,’ he whispered as he whimpered a little. She licked up his length and he sighed out a very happy purr, stroking her hair. ‘This…this is worth everything I’ve ever gone through,’ he continued and she looked up at him with big eyes and he smiled. ‘I love you, I treasure you,’ he spoke before she took him in her mouth. That was the sort of praise Zelphie wanted to hear. A compliment on her magic was nice, but hearing Rolan talk to her like that as she was doing everything she could to please him was just blissful. She wanted to make him selfishly happy. She wanted to be of use, she wanted to be a positive light for him. Never a burden, she didn’t want presents and accolades. She wanted to make him happy. He hissed a little and laughed, watching her. She slowly bobbed up and down, sucking in as she went up, twirling her tongue around the head of his cock. ‘The most wonderful person I have ever met, the most beautiful woman any have ever laid eyes on and she’s on her knees in front of me, lips on my…cock,’ he said, clearly not comfortable with that language. He shuddered another moan and leaned back in his elbow and watched her, his hand in her hair.

Zelphie moved a little quicker, adding her hand to the base and he free hand stroked and cupped his balls. If he was going to keep praising her like that, he should expect her to over perform. She wanted him to be selfish that night. Was she ready for sex, to be touched? Of course, but he deserved to just be taken care of, to be worshiped. She was very happy hearing his swear and moan and whine under her touch and tongue. She watched his face and his chest rise, and his eyes never left her face. Timidly, he grabbed one of her horns and applied a little pressure, asking for permission. She cooed in response, so she never stopped her task, but gave him permission to move her. He knew what he liked, she wanted him to show her.

‘How deep can you…?’ He asked, pushing her head down, her mouth taking more of him and stopped at her hand. She breathed through her nose as he kept her steady. ‘Move your hand, my love, just one deep one,’ he asked softly and she took in another deep breath, removed her hands and moved further down. She gagged lightly and stopped moving. He groaned in pleasure and pulled her up. ‘Oh very good, that’s my girl,’ he said and she went down again, just before that gag. ‘Oh fuck, fuck Zelphie, you’ll make quick work of me,’ he panted. That only encouraged her. She kept going, pushing the feeling in the back of her throat away by closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing. She wanted Rolan to lose control, to feel the bliss of an orgasm so quickly. Up and down, breathing through her nose, listening to his cries, she placed her free hand on his chest, bracing herself. ‘Darling, I’m-I’m going…’ he warned her and she added her hand back, determined to make this moment perfect for him. He cried out again and she could taste him. She swallowed his salty and sour cum quickly and lapped up the rest like a cat. ‘Oh…gods dammit Zelphie,’ he said and laid back on the bed, panting. She giggled and kissed his pulsing cock happily, very proud of herself. He leaned up after a little breathing break and looked at her. Her tail was curled up, mischievous and proud, as was her face. She had on a wicked little smile and he shook his head. What was he thinking? He looked dazed. ‘You know exactly how to unravel me,’ he said and she giggled again.

‘Are you happy?’ She asked and he laughed loudly.

‘To quote you from last night, that is a terrible word for how I am feeling, but yes, I am happy,’ he told her and reached down his hand to stroke her face. ‘Off your knees, my love, come up with me,’ he told her and she got up, her knees cracking a little. He pulled her into his lap and grinned up at her. He placed a hand on her back, the other on her backside. ‘Surely, that kind of behavior deserves a little something,’ he told her and she wrapped her arms around his neck. With a strength she didn’t understand, he scooted up further on the bed, taking her with him. He laid back and she wiggled in his lap. ‘Uh uh, no, that is sensitive, you’ve sucked the life out of me,’ he told her and she howled with a laugh. ‘But I still have other parts of me you can find use in,’ he whispered, rubbing her thighs. His thumb ran over a little bite marked on her thigh that he had left on her last night, his little brand. He glanced at it and then looked back up at her. ‘Scoot up,’ he ordered and patted her bottom. She moved up his torso and received another little pat. She moved once more and got another pat. She laughed.

‘Where am I going?’ She asked and he grinned at her, not responding, but just patted her backside again. She scooted up to his chest and she got another pat. ‘Rolan!’ She squeaked when she got one last pat. ‘I’m going to suffocate you,’ she told him with a laugh.

‘I’d like for you to try,’ he said and patted her backside a little more firmly. She stared down at him. ‘Come come, I want to taste you,’ he said, his voice and tone perfectly pleasant considering what he was suggesting. ‘Don’t make me beg,’ he said, swatting her backside. She squealed and then bit her lip, looking down at him.

‘Are you sure?’ She asked and he nodded.

‘I insist, come come, be greedy,’ he said and she wiggled a little, not sure if what he was suggesting was entirely safe for him. How would he breathe? She moved a little and he was able to hook his arms under her thighs and finally push her over his face. She hovered delicately and he took out a nice deep breath. Her body shivered from his hot breath and she felt his arm constricting, pulling her further down. Finally, down not even an inch and she felt his tongue. He wasn’t going slow and she moaned, feeling his greedy tongue already lapping at her clit.

‘Oh my gods, Rolan,’ she breathed and she felt him laughing against her. Her back arched as she got used to this position. Rolan’s very skilled tongue made quick work of her. It was enough for her to be in this position, sitting just above his face. She looked down, his face pressed between her thighs, she watched him, his strong brow bone furrowed in concentration, his eyes closed. He was devastating to watch. She cursed and rocked her hips against him and his arms pulled her down. His tongue was pressed hard against her and she almost doubled over. Damn him, damn him for being so selfless. She leaned over, not able to keep herself upright. ‘Oh! Oh!’ She cried and moaned. She sat back up, knowing full well he would not be able to breathe with her on him like that. His hands moved from her thighs to her backside, helping her grind against him. 

His nails dug into the skin of her backside and she whimpered. She placed a hand over her mouth to keep quiet. His tongue made quick work on her clit, she felt herself dripped and could hear him lapping her juices. He moaned against her and her hips twitched. He laughed against her and she twitched again. He was making quick work of her. She looked down at him and his yellow eyes flashed up at her, a hungry stare. That was it.

‘I’m cumming, I’m going to cum,’ she whimpered and his tongue moved from her clit to her opening quickly, allowing her to properly ride out her orgasm. ‘Oh fuck,’ she whispered and she heard Rolan laugh, muffled of course. Her hips bucked as the pulsating orgasm rang from her spine to her hips and thighs.

She got right off of him and he sat up in his elbows, wiping his face with the back of his hand. He was a mess. His face was deep red, covered in her juices, his hair was undone, but he looked incredibly happy.

‘Are you alright? Did I squish you?’ She asked and he laughed again.

‘I’m on cloud nine,’ he said and sat up, kissing her deeply. She could taste herself on his lips. ‘You are wonderful, so beautiful the way you sing for me,’ he said and kissed her again, leaning her back in the bed. He pressed his nose to hers, she laid back on their pillows. ‘I love you,’ he whispered and she made eye contact with him through loving and lustful eyes.

‘I love you more,’ she whispered back and leaned up to kiss him again. The couple laid with each other, just kissing, touching. Zelphie had hoped he might get hard one last time, but just kisses and touches for now. She would survive. He calmed down a little and rolled over, sighing out and Zelphie scooted close to him, kissing his shoulder. He leaned over and grabbed his book and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close.

‘Are you sure you’d like to hear me read this?’ He asked and she laughed, nodding. His hand found her hair and he began to lightly pet it. Her damned horns got in the way of a proper cuddle, but she curled up against him as best she could. In a low, soft register, Rolan began to read from his book, a chapter on the anatomy of a displacer beast. She wasn’t the biggest fan of an anatomy lesson, but with Rolan’s fingers stroking her hair and his beautifully deep voice and slow breathing, Zelphie was put to peace very quickly. She rubbed tiny circles on his chest and Rolan stopped reading once he felt her stop and grow heavy. He looked down at her and placed his book on the side table mindlessly. He repositioned himself to be on his side, as he liked to. He almost lost an eye when Zelphie rolled over to her other side. He wrapped an arm around her hips and even though light helped him sleep, he fell asleep quickly with his face buried in her hair.